Robots are made out of things like metal and plastic... these can be sanitized if necessary. It would be worth it for a robot; not worth it for a pod.
“..these can be sanitized if necessary.”
I think I read where Ebola dies out in the cooler months (in Africa? Maybe I’m wrong.) But if it is temperature sensitive they could run stuff through the cooler for 24 hours. I think it only lasts on a hard surface for a few days anyway.
There was a photograph of heavy duty rubber gloves and boots hanging to dry in one photo - so obviously they aren’t throwing everything away. I imagine a good bleach solution and air-dry kills the virus. Of course that assumes they washed everything well.
I worked for four years in an isolation ward. At an ebola level of disease everything that comes in contact with the patient will have to be disposable. And a special effort will have to be made to burn whatever comes out of the room. So if they can make a disposable robot that they don’t mind destroying after treating one patient, I guess they would consider using a robot.