Doctors around world have issued strong warnings for people not to use disinfectant to treat coronavirus. Their plea follows suggestions on Thursday by US President Donald Trump that disinfectant could potentially be used to treat COVID-19. President Trump said: "I see disinfectant, where it knocks [ virus] out in one minute....Is there way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost cleaning?...It gets in lungs and it does tremendous number on lungs." On Friday, Mr Trump said his comments had been made "sarcastically". The White House press secretary said media took comments out of context and ran "with negative headlines".
Disinfectants are hazardous and toxic substances. They can be poisonous if ingested and have fatal consequences. Reckitt Benckiser, maker of best-selling disinfectant Lysol, warned that its product should "under no circumstance" be injected or ingested. The president of American Medical Association also joined in chorus of concern regarding President Trump's comments. She said: "It is unfortunate that I have to comment on this, but people should under no circumstances ingest or inject bleach or disinfectant." She added: "Rest assured, when we eventually find treatment for or vaccine against COVID-19, it will not be in cleaning supplies aisle."
