DOH reiterates warning against misting, spraying disinfectant after doctor’s death
Posted at Jun 08 2020 07:12 PM
MANILA — The Department of Health on Monday reminded the public anew that there is still no evidence that misting can help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
This, after a doctor-policeman passed away after inhaling a disinfectant during decontamination efforts at a quarantine facility where he was assigned in Pasig.
Police Captain Casey Gutierrez, 31, died last May 30 at the Lung Center of the Philippines, 5 days after the incident. The PNP said it will investigate the matter, especially since 2 other doctors were still recovering after inhaling the same disinfectant.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said they inhaled toxic chemicals, which could be due to mislabeling or misuse.
“The Department of Health is saddened by this unfortunate incident and strongly reiterates Memorandum 2020-0157, which strongly urges the public to avoid spraying and misting for COVID-19 at this time,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a televised briefing.
The said memorandum was issued in April as various institutions started using misting booths to decontaminate people before they entered buildings.
It details guidelines on cleaning and disinfection.
“There is insufficient evidence to support large-scale misting, fogging or spraying both indoors and outdoors as an effective disinfection or decontamination strategy in non-health settings that kills the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19,” Vergeire said.
The health official warned int he past that spraying or misting can “cause pathogens to be dispersed further during spraying.”
It can also result in skin irritation or the inhalation of chemicals, as well as environmental pollution.
