Buddhist monk has built sanitiser dispensers operated with foot pedal to reduce the risk of coronavirus germs spreading from people touching them with their hands.<br /><br />Phra Sarawut Thitisopano, a young monk at Wat Samuha Pradittharam in Saraburi province, Thailand, showed off his clever invention this morning (May 1).<br /><br />His temple has been widely praised by health officials and residents for the hygiene-conscious dispensers they have developed. They have even donated them to local hospitals and government offices to help stop the spread of COVID-19.<br /><br />Phra Sarawut said: ''We just want to help to stop the virus. Everybody has to try their best to think of new ways to help.''<br /><br />The devout Buddhist and other monks re-purpose steel left over from a construction site near the temple.<br /><br />They cut the poles into a desired length, make foot paddles, and combine the pieces together. For the mechanics, they use sliding gate wheels to activate the foot paddle. <br /><br />Each dispenser takes two hours to make with a budget of less than 200 baht (6.15USD).<br /><br />Footage shows how the alcohol-based hand sanitiser gel, or sanitiser gel, is pumped out effortlessly when a monk steps on the foot paddle. The monks then spray-paint the stands blue. <br /><br />Phra Sarawut said he used to be a mechanic and researched how to make dispensers by watching DIY videos online. <br /><br />The temple has made and donated more than ten dispensers so far to local hospitals, temples, and government offices.<br /><br />Thailand recorded just six new coronavirus cases on May 1 and ministers have started to ease restrictions, with some restaurants, shops and hair salons being allowed to open from May 4.<br /><br />However, a ban on non-residents entering the country is set to remain indefinitely until the pandemic is brought under control in other parts of the world.
