Various countries across the globe are spraying disinfectants on roads to eliminate the coronavirus. However, the WHO (World Health Organization) informed on Saturday that spraying disinfectants on streets is useless, and it does not eliminate the novel coronavirus. The WHO also warned that it even poses a health risk.
The World Health Organization published a document on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in which the WHO states that spraying disinfectants is not an effective measure. The WHO published the document as part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The World Health Organization explained in the document that spraying disinfectant on outdoor surfaces or fumigation of outdoor spaces like roads, streets, or marketplaces, etcetera is ineffective, and the WHO does not recommend spraying or fumigation of spaces to kill the coronavirus or other viruses. The World Health Organization further explained that dirt and debris inactivate the disinfectants.
The document reads that chemical spraying is not likely to sufficiently cover all the spaces for the duration of the contact time that is required to kill the viruses, even when there is no organic matter present. This means that the disinfectants do not cover the outdoor spaces such as streets or marketplaces for the required contact time to eliminate the coronavirus.
The World Health Organization further added that the roadways and sidewalks are not treated as the source of infection of COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. The WHO also added that spraying disinfectants even on outside spaces can harmful to human health.
The document published by the WHO also stresses that it is not suggested to spray individuals with disinfectants under any situation. Spraying individuals with disinfectants can be harmful to their physical and psychological health, and it cannot reduce the ability of an infected person to spread the coronavirus via droplets or contact.
The document reads that spraying chlorine and various other harmful chemicals on individuals can result in skin and eye irritation as well as cause gastrointestinal and bronchospasm effects. The World Health Organization is also informing us against the organized spraying and fumigation of disinfectants on the areas in indoor locations. The organization cited a study that has revealed it to be inefficient outside straightforward spraying surfaces.
The document states that if we want to apply disinfectants, we should apply them with a piece of cloth or wipe soaked in disinfectant. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can attach itself to areas and objects, the document says. This virus was the cause of the pandemic that appeared in China during late December, and it has killed over 300,000 individuals across the globe since its appearance.
Still, we do not currently have accurate data for the duration during which the harmful viruses continue to remain infectious in various areas and objects. Studies have revealed that this virus can stay alive on various sorts of surfaces for many days. Yet, these maximum durations are recorded by the researchers under controlled laboratory conditions, and we should interpret them with caution in the real-world surroundings as they are only theoretical measurements.
Photo: Henrique Casinhas/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
Read next: Instagram and the new wave of viral disinformation
The World Health Organization published a document on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in which the WHO states that spraying disinfectants is not an effective measure. The WHO published the document as part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The World Health Organization explained in the document that spraying disinfectant on outdoor surfaces or fumigation of outdoor spaces like roads, streets, or marketplaces, etcetera is ineffective, and the WHO does not recommend spraying or fumigation of spaces to kill the coronavirus or other viruses. The World Health Organization further explained that dirt and debris inactivate the disinfectants.
The document reads that chemical spraying is not likely to sufficiently cover all the spaces for the duration of the contact time that is required to kill the viruses, even when there is no organic matter present. This means that the disinfectants do not cover the outdoor spaces such as streets or marketplaces for the required contact time to eliminate the coronavirus.
The World Health Organization further added that the roadways and sidewalks are not treated as the source of infection of COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. The WHO also added that spraying disinfectants even on outside spaces can harmful to human health.
The document published by the WHO also stresses that it is not suggested to spray individuals with disinfectants under any situation. Spraying individuals with disinfectants can be harmful to their physical and psychological health, and it cannot reduce the ability of an infected person to spread the coronavirus via droplets or contact.
The document reads that spraying chlorine and various other harmful chemicals on individuals can result in skin and eye irritation as well as cause gastrointestinal and bronchospasm effects. The World Health Organization is also informing us against the organized spraying and fumigation of disinfectants on the areas in indoor locations. The organization cited a study that has revealed it to be inefficient outside straightforward spraying surfaces.
The document states that if we want to apply disinfectants, we should apply them with a piece of cloth or wipe soaked in disinfectant. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can attach itself to areas and objects, the document says. This virus was the cause of the pandemic that appeared in China during late December, and it has killed over 300,000 individuals across the globe since its appearance.
Still, we do not currently have accurate data for the duration during which the harmful viruses continue to remain infectious in various areas and objects. Studies have revealed that this virus can stay alive on various sorts of surfaces for many days. Yet, these maximum durations are recorded by the researchers under controlled laboratory conditions, and we should interpret them with caution in the real-world surroundings as they are only theoretical measurements.
Photo: Henrique Casinhas/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
Read next: Instagram and the new wave of viral disinformation
