DOH issues circular telling public to “avoid spraying and misting at this time”; no evidence it can kill virus

Courtesy DOH

 

(Eagle News) — The Department of Health has issued a department circular advising the public “to avoid spraying and misting at this time” saying that there is no evidence to support that this actually kills the COVID-19 virus.

In Department circular no. 2020-0172, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that misting or spraying in fact poses an additional health and safety concerns.

“There is no evidence to support that spraying surfaces or large scale misting of areas, indoor or outdoor with disinfecting agents kills the virus,”

Duque said in the DOH released “guidance on mistinf or spraying for COVID-19.”

He said that misting and spraying can even cause “pathogens to be dispersed further from the direct application of a spray.”

It can also “result to skin irritation or inhalation of chemicals and subsequent development of respiratory side effects.”

Duque said that large-scale misting and spraying of areas “may also cause environmental pollution and should be avoided.”

“To kill the virus, objects have to be soaked completely or surfaces cleaned directly with disinfectants,” he said in the DOH circular dated April 9, 2020

(Eagle News Service)