Decontamination of germs on human touch points

A germ decontamination apparatus adapted to decontaminate at least one fomite region of an object fixedly attached to a support structure, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining an interior enclosure;
• the housing including a rear housing portion and a front housing portion;
• the rear housing portion including a rear opening disposed therein, the rear opening being configured or designed to provide access to the interior enclosure;
• the housing being configured or designed to be attachable to the support structure in a first configuration which permits the entirety of the at least one fomite region to be exposed to the interior enclosure;
• the front housing portion including a front cover plate and a front opening configured or designed to provide access to the interior enclosure;
• a movable access door movably attached to the housing for preventing access to the interior enclosure via the front opening, the access door being configurable in a closed configuration which prevents access to the interior enclosure, the access door being further configurable in an open configuration which permits access to the interior enclosure;
• wherein the access door comprises a first movable, stackable access panel, the first access panel being movable into a first stacked configuration with the front cover plate such that the first access panel is stacked either behind or in front of the front cover plate when the access door is configured in the open configuration;
• the first access panel including at least one first edge portion and a first body portion, the at least one first edge portion being different from the first body portion, the first body portion including a first curved body portion;
• a drive mechanism for causing the access door to open or close in response to at least one triggering event;
• one or more ultraviolet light sources disposed at the interior enclosure and configured to decontaminate the at least one fomite region;
• one or more sensors configured to detect the at least one triggering event;
• and
• a controller configured to control the one or more sensors, the drive mechanism, and/or the one or more light sources.