January 20, 2022 | By Bronwen Largier
With the pandemic rolling through a second Australian Open, the tournament renewed its hygiene partnership with Rentokil Initial for a second year, with the multinational company providing an Australian-first air purifying and filtration solution for the global sporting event.
Rentokil Initial has placed 70 VIRUSKILLERTM air purification devices in strategic indoor spaces at the Grand Slam tennis tournament, which filter and decontaminate air, to reduce the risk from bacteria and viruses.
The VIRUSKILLERTM was originally developed in collaboration with Korean Aerospace University in response to the SARS epidemic in 2003 and a study using a coronavirus surrogate and a number of other viruses including flu and polio found the devices killed over 99.99 percent of viruses.
“Over the past 18 months, we’ve all become very familiar with washing and sanitising both our hands and surfaces, wearing masks and social distancing,” said Rentokil Initial Managing Director for the Pacific, Andrew Stone.
“However, to keep this year’s first large scale event in Australia as safe as possible, it is crucial for Rentokil to take additional steps to minimise the risk of airborne transmission.
“One of the best ways to do this is through best-in-class air purification technology, such as VIRUSKILLERTM. With almost two decades of globally validated research and development, we know VIRUSKILLERTM is up to the challenge of providing greater protection against the transmission of COVID-19.”
The hygiene business has also installed 800 touch free hand sanitiser units throughout the Melbourne Park precinct.