A young Omani inventor is assisting the Sultanate in its fight against COVID-19 with his inventions that can potentially stop viruses from transmitting in public areas. 

A pleased Rashid Bin Ismail Al Balushi poses for the camera with his mask on and proudly showcasing the devices he has just created. While the device he holds in his hands piques the interests of onlookers, what the young Omani has created may just help Oman fortify its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three devices he has created include a pen sterilization device, a cash and paper sterilization device, and a surface sterilizer.

The Omani, who is based out of the Wilayat of Ibri says he created the devices to help the nation fight against the Coronavirus. Driven by passion from a young age, he adds that his inventions come from his personal desire to make a change.

The first device – a pen sterilizer – is intended to be placed in banks and other locations where the public may need access to pens. The handy device, is simple to carry, can be placed anywhere, and does not need access to a power point (electricity).

Instead, it derives power from a battery and uses Ultra-Violet (UV) rays to sterilize the pen. As per HealthLine, a website focussing on medicine and health, UV rays are known to kill many forms of germs in under nine minutes.

Rashid explains that the sterilizer works by focusing the UV rays on the pen for a specific period of time until the virus is completely inactivated.

His second innovation – the cash and paper sterilization device – has been patented at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. It sterilizes money and other forms of paper using a combination of techniques including focussing a certain temperature, degree of vibration, and UV rays on the currency, books, or paper.

The third device – which aims to sterilize solid surfaces – used a fluid that is sprayed at a high temperature of up to 100 degree Celsius to create an unsuitable environment for viruses, particularly the Coronavirus, to transmit.

Rashid told the Oman News Agency in his interview that all his devices are easy to manufacture and can be made in “record time”.