Rabat – After his most recent Islamophobia controversy, US President Donald Trump is touting the use of disinfectants as a potential cure for COVID-19, stirring both backlash and mockery from medical experts and internet users.
Trump also suggested heat and light could end COVID-19.
While Trump had previously theorized on summer heat combatting the coronavirus, proclaiming disinfectants as a cure and not just a prevention measure drew surprise and shocked medical experts across the world.
On April 23, Trump opined that patients with COVID-19 could be injected with disinfectant products and light as a potential treatment.
Trump introduced his theories during a press briefing where an official from the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, William Bryan, participated in COVID-19 updates.
Bryan reported the findings of government researchers that the virus appears to survive better when indoors and in dry conditions. When exposed to sunlight and humidity, the virus may not last as long. However, Trump took the information further, presuming doctors could apply light to people already infected.
During the task force briefing, Trump claimed he believes 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? Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that. So, that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me,” the US president continued.
Trump admitted he is not a doctor but claimed to be a “good-you-know-what person.”
The US head of state touted his theory throughout the press conference, asking doctors to do experiments to see how heat and disinfectant products are able to end the virus.
“I would like you to speak to the medical doctors to see if there’s any way that you can apply light and heat to cure, you know? If you could, and maybe you can, maybe you can’t,” Trump said.
Trump’s theories sparked both mockery and outcry among many medical officials and Twitter users.
“Please don’t inject or consume disinfectants,” American commentator Chris Hayes wrote on his Twitter.
How do you explain no flu during the summer
” heat” ? Trump’s correct, and he’s no m.d. he is a common sense Dr.— David (@TRUMP2020N4EVA) April 24, 2020
International media quickly quoted responses from medical experts who warned Trump’s theories could endanger people’s lives.
A professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley, Robert Reich, said on Twitter the president’s briefings are “actively endangering the public’s health. Boycott the propaganda. Listen to the experts. And please don’t drink disinfectant.”
In March, a man died in Arizona after he took chloroquine phosphate, a substance used to clean fish tanks.
Please don’t inject or consume disinfectants.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 23, 2020
The man’s wife was in critical condition for taking the same medicine after Donald Trump touted the anti-malaria medication as a potentially effective treatment for COVID-19.
Medical experts across the world have spoken of the potential of chloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 but warned that no one should take the medication without a doctor’s prescription, especially because of its serious side effects.
