KONE Elevator India introduces solutions for lifts and escalators to beat COVID-19, writes Amit Gossain, Managing Director, KONE Elevator India.To say that the pandemic has thrown life out of gear for all of us would be an understatement. Indeed, COVID-19 has forced us to rethink the way we should live. Public spaces are stressful in a Coronavirus-stricken environment and the way people interact with everyday surroundings is set to change. It becomes imperative that buildings and cities are made safer and healthier places tolive, work and commute. As a pioneer in people flow, and with a holistic approach to health, well-being and safety, KONE has introduced a range of Health and Well-being Solutions that will help recreate safer user journeys and healthy spaces in the buildings. The solutions are built on KONE’s deep expertise and knowledge of people flow, which is vital when addressing the challenges of adapting to a new way of life in the face of the current pandemic. Reducing the need to touch surfacesAs people started returning to work, another real concern related to shared spaces became extremely clear: People are unwilling to touch common surfaces like buttons in elevators. Elevator Remote Call Feature using WhatsApp is a response to this. It allows users to call an elevator using social messaging channels like WhatsApp, removing the need to touch possibly contaminated buttons or displays.Contributing to healthier environmentPhysical distancing elevator floor stickers and elevator full load limit adjustment will ensure less crowding and thereby contribute to a healthier environment. Helping prevent the spread of diseaseTo further reduce concerns over elevator use, KONE is introducing in selected markets the new KONE Elevator Air Purifier. It uses technology – including an advanced photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) process developed by NASA for air control on spaceships – to improve air quality in the elevator car by removing most of the potential pollutants, like bacteria, viruses, dust and odours in the air.KONE Handrail Sanitizer is an escalator handrail cleaning solution that uses ultraviolet light (UV-C) to gradually disinfect escalator handrails. Continuous chemical-free cleaning happens inside the escalator, with no risk for passengers. Exposure to ultra-violet radiation helps reduce and inhibit the reproduction of micro-organisms such as bacteria or viruses.Keep equipment running and safeAs we all learn to live by the new norms of our cities, neighbourhoods and buildings, it is likely we will continue to insist on smooth people flow once we do get going again. With cloud based KONE 24/7 Connected Services, KONE helps to ensure transparency and preventive maintenance on equipment performance. In these unprecedented times when hygiene and physical distancing are vitally important, KONE’s health and wellbeing solutions will help regain confidence in everyday environments, in cities, and with the buildings we move through.(Communication by the management of the company)