How Automatic Doors Help Slow Down Coronavirus

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has affecting millions of people around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reminded all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be considerably slowed down or even stopped if strict containment and control measures are applied. The health authorities recommend hygiene as the best exponent to prevent it from spreading.

Included among the prevention guidelines are:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
• Adopt respiratory hygiene measures and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth 
• Avoid crowds and limit physical contact 
• Adopt hygiene measures when visiting areas where there are a lot of people including the wearing of masks 
• Increase the cleaning of communal areas and areas considered a risk of infection 
• If possible, stay at home to avoid infection or infecting others if you are infected.

Public spaces such as shopping malls, supermarkets or offices have reduced the number of people circulating around them to a greater or lesser extent. However, we sometimes have little or no choice but to leave home, for example to shop for food or medicines. This is where the importance of door automation comes in.

Touch point poses a risk of transmission

Manual doors mean physical contact. Epidemiologists estimate the coronavirus can live on surfaces like stainless steel for three days, so considering installing automatic doors could be a game-changer in environments such as hospital wards, where hand sanitation is a matter of life and death. 

Automatic doors are essential in hospitals and health centres, as they completely isolate the inside of the rooms. Likewise, in warehouses working with products where there is a great loading and unloading activity, automatic doors are fundamental. They provide agility, great operability, and the best hygiene conditions. At times where we must be strict with regard to distances and the use of materials, they provide comfort and safety.

Once this pandemic is over, it would be a good idea to analyse where automatic doors might be of benefit (in most places and buildings, including public transport), for the common good of all society. Not only to avoid a new epidemic, but also for hygiene against the common cold and flu.

Automatic doors are moderately priced and safe

Automatic doors are moderately priced by comparison with many other components of buildings and often more durable in high traffic areas than standard doors.

They are also safer than standard doors because they are unlikely to clobber people or crush fingers, and they are far friendlier to people with children and people carrying boxes of files or trays of donuts.

And finally, here are some other benefits to installing an automatic door:

• They are built to last. With proper maintenance the doors will last for years. They are sturdy, durable, and of course, provide great security for the building and its staff.
• Help prevent queues. Especially during peak time, a manual door can cause a build-up of people queuing. Automatic doors allow traffic to flow in and out constantly, helping you to run your business or company more efficiently.
• They can cut your bills. As automatic doors close themselves you will not be losing heat (or cold air) unnecessarily.