Robot staff debuted at a Tokyo hotel used for mildly sick coronavirus patients under a new plan to free up beds at hospitals overburdened with more severe cases.
Pepper, a talking robot, greets new guests at the lobby, while Whiz, a cleaning robot, operates in areas where patients pick up meals and other daily necessities to reduce infection risks for human staff.
Pepper, wearing a white surgical mask, greeted Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike as she walked into the hotel during Friday’s demonstration. Pepper also reminds patients to check their temperature and rest well.
Guests can also access health management applications on computers and tablets to record their temperatures and symptoms.
The robots, made by SoftBank Robotics, will also be deployed at other hotels rented by Tokyo’s metropolitan government for patients with no or mild symptoms. So far, Tokyo has secured five hotels and aims to increase the number of rooms from the current 1,500 to 2,800.
The hotels are also staffed by doctors and nurses, but officials hope the robots can cheer up an otherwise lonely time for guests who are isolated in single rooms for their weeks-long stay. Japan has 14,281 confirmed cases, with 432 deaths, according to the health ministry.
This isn't the first time robots have showed up at hotels in Japan, the Weird Hotel, which opened in 2015 in the southwestern part of the country, was "manned" almost totally by robots to save labor costs, though the hotel later turned many jobs back over to humans.
Forbidden City reopens in China
Also in Asia, Beijing’s parks and museums including the ancient Forbidden City reopened to the public after being closed for months by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Forbidden City, past home to China’s emperors, is allowing just 5,000 visitors daily, down from 80,000. Parks are allowing people to visit at 30% of the usual capacity.
China on Friday reported 12 new cases of the virus, six of them brought from overseas, and no new deaths for the 16th day. It has reported a total of 4,633 deaths from the virus among about 83,000 cases.
Thai airlines resume some flights
And in Thailand, domestic airlines are resuming some flights as half the country’s provincial airports reopen.
The Department of Airports said 14 of the 28 airports it oversees reopened Friday. Domestic flights also resumed at international gateways, including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and Chiang Mai airport in the north.
The airlines include Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet Air. Don Mueang airport plans to handle 150 arrivals and departures Friday, compared to four or five in recent weeks. International passenger flight arrivals remain banned.
All airports must implement social distancing measures and passengers must wear masks.
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May 02, 2020 at 12:30AM
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Meet Pepper and Whiz: Japan debuts robots at hotels to look after coronavirus patients - USA TODAY
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