Hospitality bosses turn to science to stay safe ahead of big opening

Anti-viral ‘nano-wipes’ protect from Covid for 7 days

HOSPITALITY bosses are increasingly adopting a new type of hygiene wipe that uses latest science to keep surfaces free from Covid for up to seven days.

British company LiquidNano says it has seen a spike in interest from the hospitality sector for its anti-viral ‘Steri-Wipes’ ahead of next week’s relaxation of lockdown.

The hygiene wipes utilise nano-technology to create an antiviral coating on touchscreens, counters, staff mobile phones, and door handles in order to keep staff and customers safe.

“We’re currently experiencing a great deal of interest from the hospitality industry as it prepares to welcome back customers,” said Andy Middleton, co-founder of LiquidNano.

“It’s great news that restrictions are being lifted but people understandably remain cautious. Our Steri-Wipes leave a microscopic coating of an anti-viral agent, which has been shown to be effective over time.”

Establishments that will be using the wipes include The Alchemist hospitality group, which operates at a number of sites around the UK, including in Manchester and London.

A spokesperson for The Alchemist, said: “Our teams feel safer knowing we are providing a product for them which actively repels bacteria and viruses for a sustained period. Having information about the science behind the wipes also enables us to provide a clear response to our guests, who may ask about the procedures we have in place.”

The wipes contain a gel to create an invisible film of liquid glass that is 500 times thinner than a human hair, which then kills bacteria and viruses, including envelope viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 (which causes Covid-19). The Steri-Wipe product also comes in spray format.

The product contains a trusted disinfectant called Bacoban, which was developed in German. Its properties have been verified by The German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) at the Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene.

The wipes were used by a number of NHS and charity workers during the pandemic to keep their mobile touchscreens clean. These included the Life Lines medical charity in London and staff at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit in Scotland.

A study by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia warned that SARS-CoV-2 could survive for up to 28 days on devices such as mobile phones, bank ATMs, supermarket self-serve checkouts, and airport check-in kiosks.