Using Ultraviolet light which kills Covid-19 to disinfect classrooms and buses could be a major step forward in making schools safer when they reopen next month, says a senior west Wales clinician.

Dr Rhys Thomas, a consultant anaesthetist, said that scientific evidence shows that Covid-19 is highly sensitive to UV-C light and is rapidly killed by it, in the air and on hard surfaces.

“This could be a game changer in making schools and transport much safer for pupils and staff alike,” said Dr. Thomas who is also the prospective Plaid Cymru candidate in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire for next year’s Senedd elections.

“Teacher and pupil safety is imperative and parents must feel confident about sending their children back to school in a few weeks’ time.

“It would be a relatively cheap way of disinfecting classrooms and buses. Airlines and train companies in America and other parts of the world have already started using it.”

Dr Thomas met with senior members of Carmarthenshire County Council to advise them on the possible use of Ultraviolet electromagnetic light radiation. A pilot scheme is now under consideration. He’s also asking local councils to provide staff and older pupils with PPEs.

Pembrokeshire county councillor Michael Williams who represents the North ward of Tenby called it an exciting development.

“If the pilot scheme in Carmarthenshire is successful, we should be investigating this as a matter of urgency,” he remarked.

“Following a presentation by Dr Rhys Thomas, I’ve raised the matter with the Director of Education.”

Dr Thomas has been at the forefront of the battle to combat Covid-19.

His innovative CPAP non-invasive ventilator, developed jointly with an Ammanford-based company, specifically for Covid–19 patients, is currently undergoing clinical trials in the UK and abroad.

He’s also part of a small team which has developed an app to enable patients to track the course of their illness from home.

A treatment path proposed by Dr Thomas some months ago, based on the use of pulse oximeters and CPAP, was recently adopted by Welsh Government.

Dr Thomas has a proven track record in the medical field in Wales.

He previously co-led on setting up the world-leading Wales Air Ambulance Service, based on his experience during seven tours of duty in Afghanistan as an army medical officer, from which he retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel.