(USA TODAY) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport added seven UV-C light sterilizers to some pre-security escalators to maximize the safety of travelers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
UV-C, or ultraviolet light, is known to kill up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses and many other microorganisms, according to Sky Harbor officials.
The light was installed underneath the escalator handrail and is not visible to travelers, said Gabriel Nevarez, deputy aviation director for Facilities and Services.
“They shine the UV light directly on the handrail as it passes through,” Nevarez said, “As the handrail is moving, it’s a continuous sanitation of the handrail.”