TOKYO: The Tokyo metropolitan government unveiled on Friday robots that will be used in two hotels housing those infected with the novel coronavirus.

The metropolitan government aims to efficiently clean the hotels, housing asymptomatic patients or those with light symptoms, as well as lower the burden on staff members.

The robots were unveiled at a hotel in the capital's Sumida Ward, and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike also came to inspect them.

One cylindrical robot is programmed to hand lunch boxes to patients and clean the hotel lobby.

Another robot, a humanoid, is designed to interact with patients. At the unveiling, the robot said, "I pray for your fast recovery," to which Koike responded, "Let's do our best."  

The metropolitan government also introduced an app for managing the health conditions of patients at the hotel. It allows patients to record their body temperatures and other data on physical conditions, making the collection of information more efficient than when metropolitan staff members phoned each patient twice a day.

Five locations, with a combined total of some 2,800 rooms, are accepting asymptomatic patients or those with light symptoms under the metropolitan government's measures, the government said.

JIJI Press