(Eagle News) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) advised local government units (LGUs) not to use misting or spraying on individuals, including the use of disinfection tents, misting chambers or sanitation booths, saying that this can do more harm than good.
DILG said that in issuing this directive, it is just following guidelines from the Department of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) which had already advised against such misting and spraying procedures.
“The most important thing is we continue to adapt as we discover new knowledge about COVID-19. Tulad na lamang na hindi makatutulong ang mga disinfection mist laban dito kaya naman we discourage the LGUs from using them sa kanilang mga nasasakupan,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año.
He stressed that the last thing the national government needs right now are added health concerns on top of the COVID-19.
He said that stopping the use of the said disinfection methods on people is the right step since its effectiveness has been refuted by the DOH.
Año.said that even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States America has debunked the effectiveness of disinfection practices reporting their lack of microbial efficacy and highlights their adverse health effects.
He, however, clarified that misting can still be done on cars, rooms, buildings, and other inanimate objects.
“Ang sabi ng DOH ay ‘wag lang sa tao ngunit puwede sa mga bagay so we are following that advisory,” he said.
Individuals in full PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment), characterized as having no external skin exposure, may be subject to misting or spraying before removing their full PPEs with careful consideration on the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat, he said.
The DILG already issued an advisory dated April 18, 2020 advising LGUs to ban the use of the disinfection tents and misting chambers for individuals without PPE in reference to DOH memorandum 2020-0157.
But the DOH, in a circular, had also advised against mising of rooms and buildings saying this could further disperse pathogens and also cause respiratory side effects, aside from environmental pollution.
(Eagle News Service)