WHO Says Spraying Disinfectants in Public Areas Increases Health Risks

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In a document released on Saturday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that spraying open public areas with disinfectants does not kill the Covid-19 virus, but instead poses more health threats.

“Spraying or fumigation of outdoor spaces, such as streets or marketplaces, is… not recommended to kill the COVID-19 virus or other pathogens because disinfectant is inactivated by dirt and debris,” explains the WHO.

The organisation says that chemical spraying is ineffective because it is not able to cover all surfaces completely for the time needed to eliminate traces of the virus. In the document, they further explain that streets and pavements are not considered danger zones.

According to the WHO, spraying people with disinfectants should also be discouraged due to the effect that certain chemicals can have not only on the skin and the eyes but also on the functioning of internal systems.

WHO says that countries who are trying to implement more stringent hygiene measures as they ease lockdown should refrain from using chemicals during an attempt to disinfect streets and pavements.