Doctors have warned against using disinfectant to treat coronavirus. This plea follows US President Donald Trump suggesting disinfectant could be used to treat COVID-19. He said: "I see the disinfectant, where it knocks [the virus] out.…Is there a way we can do something like that by injection?…It gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number." Mr Trump said his comments were sarcastic. The White House said the media took the comments out of context.

Disinfectants are toxic and can have fatal consequences if injected. The maker of a best-selling disinfectant warned its product should "under no circumstance" be injected. The American Medical Association was also concerned. It said: "People should under no circumstances ingest or inject bleach or disinfectant." It added: "When we eventually find a treatment for or vaccine against COVID-19, it will not be in the cleaning supplies aisle."