*A federal health official on Trump’s coronavirus task force had to explain to the public why the president’s idea of injecting disinfectant into patients won’t cure COVID-19.
In case you missed it, during Thursday’s White House press briefing, Trump suggested “injecting” humans with disinfectants to kill the virus.
“I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out, in a minute. Is there a way we can do something like that?” Trump asked during the briefing. “By injection, inside, or almost a cleaning, because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that. You’re going to have to use medical doctors, right? But it sounds interesting to me.”
Coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx told the president she hasn’t heard of those methods “as a treatment”
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“I certainly wouldn’t recommend the internal ingestion of a disinfectant,” says FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, responding to President Trump suggesting the use of a disinfectant that can kill a Covid-19 infection “by injection inside.” #CNNTownHall https://t.co/IlD9ZOfPy7 pic.twitter.com/jpFttUrZZE
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) April 24, 2020
As reported by PEOPLE, Federal officials also had to explain to Trump during Thursday’s coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing that his idea of killing the virus by exposing it to sunlight or warm, humid conditions would not rid the country of the deadly contagion.
“Deborah, have you ever heard of that? The heat and the light. Relative to certain viruses, yes, but relative to this virus?” Trump asked Birx.
“Not as a treatment,” Birx responded. “I mean, certainly [with] fever [it] is a good thing. When you have a fever, it helps your body respond. But not as.. I’ve not seen heat or light.”
Trump expressed the idea after William Bryan, the Under Secretary for Science and Technology at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, claimed an ongoing but inconclusive study shows heat, humidity, and sunlight might weaken the virus.
Bryan made clear that disinfectants have been proven to kill the virus on nonporous surfaces, like metal.
During the briefing, Trump was questioned about whether he should be making such dangerous and bizarre medical claims.
“Respectfully sir, you’re the president and people tuning in to these briefings, they want to get information and guidance and want to know what to do. They’re not looking for rumors,” Washington Post reporter Phil Rucker said to Trump.
“Hey, Phil. I’m the president and you’re fake news,” Trump said back.
“Supposing you brought the light inside the body”
Trump suggested using ‘very powerful light’ or injecting disinfectant kill #coronavirus. His comments alarmed medical experts https://t.co/YY8t5QrRSN pic.twitter.com/Chg5dEQRpo
— QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) April 24, 2020
Reckitt Benckiser, the British company that makes Lysol, has issued a statement warning consumers against ingesting or injecting disinfectants.
The statement reads:
Due to recent speculation and social media activity, RB (the makers of Lysol and Dettol) has been asked whether internal administration of disinfectants may be appropriate for investigation or use as a treatment for coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
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). As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information.
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