Researchers say hand-held ultraviolet light devices being sold online with claims they can disinfect groceries and clothing can be unreliable and dangerous if mishandled. The UV light sanitizers are being advertised as the panacea for the COVID-19 pandemic, able to disinfect everything from dinner vegetables to doorknobs. Some purport to disinfect '99 per cent of germs,' but UV light experts have their doubts. Canadian scientists researching the effectiveness of UV light as a disinfectant say the at-home technology is a poor defence against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. He said industry and hospitals are collaborating on prototypes of UV light sanitizing devices across Canada.

Source: CBC News April 18, 2020 00:11 UTC