The recent statement of U.S. President Donald Trump has shocked health care workers around the world and has led them to give clarifications on how the suggested ‘treatment’ method by the president is not only ineffective but also dangerous.
In the latest briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic held at the white house, there was a team of health professionals and experts on how different factors including temperature and climate affect the virus as well a how the infection can be controlled via the use of disinfectants and proper hygiene.
Upon discussing the effect of disinfectants on the novel coronavirus, President Trump said “And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute,”
He further added that “One minute! And is there a way we can do something, by an 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’d be interesting to check that. So, that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me.”
The response coordinator of the coronavirus briefing team, Dr. Deborah Birx, did not comment on the suggestion by President Trump. However, the suggestion was dragged by people all across social media.
Prior to the injecting disinfectant recommendation, President Donald Trump had also given similar comments and suggested that the patients with the coronavirus infection can be treated by using UV or Ultraviolet rays on their bodies.
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While there are of people who have expressed outrage over the comment and are aware of the dangers of injecting any kind of disinfectant, there is a large portion of people who is not familiar with why disinfectants could be harmful and can actually inject them.
Previously, health experts and health authorities including the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the World Health Organization have repeatedly emphasized that COVID-19 cannot be cured by using UV rays or by injecting or consuming disinfectants.
The former Labor secretary and the professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley Robert Reich recently expressed his concerns over President Trump’s comments on his twitter in the words “Trump’s briefings are actively endangering the public’s health. Boycott the propaganda. Listen to the experts. And please don’t drink disinfectant.”
The former director of the Office of Government Ethics, Walter Shaub has also expressed his anger and disappointment over President Trump’s latest comment on the treatment for COVID-19.
He has also specifically asked people to not follow any of the advice that comes from President Trump and to listen to the health care workers instead.
In addition to the comments, President Donald Trump has also received backlash from the medical community over promoting certain anti-malarial drugs including hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19.
At the moment, there is no scientific evidence to back up the claim that hydroxychloroquine or any other drug can potentially treat the coronavirus infection.
In fact, the trial looking at the effects of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients showed there are no benefits of using the drug. Another trial in Brazil which was testing another similar anti-malarial drug was stopped because the patients developed serious heart-related problems including abnormal heart rhythms.
However, a government vaccine expert working on the trial for the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment recently disclosed that he was fired for limiting the dose in patients as the drug is associated with a number of serious adverse effects.
For proper guidance and instructions on avoiding COVID-19, it is better to check reliable sources such as the CDC and WHO. The use of disinfectants should be limited to cleaning.
In case of any symptoms, visit a hospital immediately. Self-medication or treatment with UV light or of any kind is harmful. Do not follow any guidelines that are not confirmed by research and health authorities.
