Nicola Sturgeon adds to condemnation of Donald Trump’s suggestion of disinfectant as coronavirus treatment

Donald Trump’s suggestion that disinfectants could be looked at as a way of treating Covid-19 have been widely condemned.

The makers of Dettol have urged people not to attempt to use their products and similar brands for this purpose, while Scotland’s First Minister reminded world leaders of their “big responsibility” when sharing information.

In his latest press conference, the US president noted that researchers were looking into the effects of such chemicals on the virus, and suggested that it would “be interesting to check” if they could be injected into people.

On research which found that isopropyl alcohol is more effective than bleach at killing the virus, Trump said: “I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute.

“One minute! And is there a way we can do something, by an injection inside or almost a cleaning? Is there a way we can do something like that by injection, inside, or almost a cleaning?”

He added that the virus “does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that”.

President Trump: “Suppose we hit the body with a tremendous light. That hasn't been checked…”

"The disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, & is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning. As you see it gets in the lungs" pic.twitter.com/IixdLZU7um

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 23, 2020

Hours later, disinfectant manufacturer RB, who make the Dettol and Lysol brands, issued a statement saying: “Due to recent speculation and social media activity, RB has been asked whether internal administration of disinfectants may be appropriate for investigation or use as a treatment for coronavirus.

“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).”

The issue was also raised at today’s daily coronavirus briefing in a question to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

She first passed the question to Jason Leitch, Scotland’s National Clinical Director, who said: “I can be certain I don’t need to advise the First Minister that injecting disinfectant into your body would be of no help for coronavirus.

“There is, however, research going on all over the world, some of that involving drugs, some of that involving vaccines, some of that involving disinfectant type things for surfaces and other parts of our infrastructure.

“They are interesting, Scotland is involved in many of them and we’re certainly watching the things happening around the world.

“But I can categorically say, and it is genuinely a serious point in terms of non-coronavirus and coronavirus, that disinfectant is for surfaces not for bodies.”

Ms Sturgeon added: “There’s always a big responsibility on all leaders, greater than ever now in a time of crisis like this.

“I’m really keen that we have an open discussion with the public and the politicians are, unusually perhaps, prepared to admit thing they don’t know as well as share the thinking of the things we do know and are trying to work through.

“But the responsibility on leaders is not to stand up on a public platform and repeat things that you have perhaps half-heard and perhaps completely misunderstood and present that to the public in a way that the public might act on and that could be dangerous.

“None of us are perfect, we will all make mistakes, but I think we all have to remember that very serious responsibility. When we’re giving advice to the public, it must be good advice informed by the best science.

“As Jason has just said, it is clearly not the case that ingesting disinfectant in any way, shape or form is a good idea. It’s a very bad idea and extremely dangerous.”

Asked about Mr Trump’s remarks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: “No, it is not something that is being looked at here.”

Probed on whether Mr Johnson thought the president’s Dettol remarks were responsible, his spokesman added: “We can only speak for the UK’s response and in relation to disinfectant, I’m certainly not aware it is anything that is being recommended.

“Our approach is being driven by UK science and medical advice.”