The maker of the cleaning product and disinfectant spray Lysol has issued a statement about not using Lysol internally, after President Donald Trump made the suggestion the disinfectant should perhaps be injected in people because it knocks the virus “out in a minute”. Here’s what spokesperson of Reckitt Benckiser, the UK-based owner of Lysol said in a statement sent to NBC News:
“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route).”
The EPA Has the Same Recommendation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also wanted to remind people that disinfectant should be used only on surfaces. A few hours before the President spoke, the EPA released this statement:
“Never apply the product to yourself or others. Do not ingest disinfectant products.”
And here are the President’s suggestions:
“I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning? As you see, it gets in the lungs, it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”
No specific disinfectant was mentioned, yet the President’s idea was to be injected in the lungs.
Of course, Twitter is full on press mode about Trump's comments, sparking a wide array of feedback from those who saw the latest press conference.
The President Asked About Ultraviolet Light Too
William Bryan from the Department of Homeland Security mentioned in a White House briefing from Thursday that there are more study results suggesting solar light is effective at killing the virus in the air and on surfaces. He didn’t mention anything about using disinfectants. Before making his injecting disinfectant suggestion, President Trump also asked if the virus may be treated with ultraviolet or perhaps a very powerful light. This was after Bryan said the new coronavirus doesn’t live that long in warmer or rather humid temperatures. Professionals in the medical field hurried to say President Trump’s remarks were dangerous and irresponsible.
The White House’s response is that his comments on the coronavirus treatment are mischaracterized by the media. Meanwhile, the White House’s coordinator for the coronavirus response, Dr. Deborah Birx said she didn’t hear of heat to be used as a treatment. Many health experts and officials warned against disinfectants being used as a treatment too.
