NEW ORLEANS — As medical professionals across the country work tirelessly to fight off the coronavirus and save lives, one local high school is lending a germ-fighting robot to a New Orleans area hospital to help in their efforts.
Jesuit High School is lending its beloved germ-killing robot, known to students as "Morty," to East Jefferson General Hospital to help it treat its growing number of COVID-19 patients.
The hospital already had two germ-zapping robots. They use UV lights to clean and sanitize an entire room, including the air and devices inside, within a matter of minutes.
But in the midst of this pandemic, as the hospital treats an increasing number of coronavirus patients, the more help they can get the better.
"It helps us out with our capacity. By being able to clean these rooms and be able to turn it over for the next patient, we're really increasing our capacity to treat patients," said Dr. Roland Waguespack with East Jefferson General Hospital.
At this point, if you're wondering how Jesuit High Schoo got Morty the germ-annihilating robot, an alumnus gifted the robot to the school years ago. It's used to sanitize the locker rooms, the gym, and help in the fight against infections like staph and MRSA.
"I think in times like these, we have people that need our help. Whenever we don't have students here, it seems like the right thing to do, to loan it to a place that could really use it," said Jesuit president Father John Brown.
The hospital is in need of these robots around the clock, especially in the emergency department as they're seeing so more patients coming through with the virus.
It's yet another example of our community coming together during this trying time.
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