PolitiFact and MediaWise are teaming up to debunk misinformation about the coronavirus crisis. To have Coronavirus Facts delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday, click here.
It’s been a few days, but I am still thinking about last week’s COVID-19 press briefing, where President Donald Trump discussed COVID-19 patients somehow absorbing or ingesting disinfectants or sunlight to cure the virus.
The president posed the thought after William Bryan, undersecretary for science and technology at the Department of Homeland Security, presented a study that found sun exposure and cleaning agents like bleach have an adverse effect on the coronavirus. Bryan was referring to the use of disinfectants on surfaces and in aerosols, but Trump asked whether the chemicals could be used in a potential COVID-19 treatment, as well.
“I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute,” Trump said. “And is there a way we can do something like that by 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.”
Some websites and social media users took that question to mean the president was recommending people inject themselves with bleach or isopropyl alcohol, an ingredient in hand sanitizer. But others said Trump meant something very different — that doctors could investigate whether using sunlight or disinfectants could clear the virus in patients.
Trump later said his comments were nothing more than a “very sarcastic question.” Regardless, Trump’s remarks caused some companies and state agencies to issue warnings about ingesting disinfectants. The maker of Lysol said in a statement that “under no circumstance” should its products be used in the human body.
PolitiFact puts it all into context.
Texas Rep. says state lags others in coronavirus testing per capita
El Paso Democrat Veronica Escobar raised concerns about the number of tests Texas has administered. She is correct. Get the facts»
How available are ventilators for coronavirus patients?
Representatives from more than 30 states told PolitiFact they haven’t had or are not aware of any ventilator shortfalls. Read more»
Photo claims to show Jacksonville Beach slammed after reopening
The photo isn’t from Florida in the spring of the coronavirus. It was taken in Brazil in 2013 during a visit from Pope Francis. Read the fact-check»
Did a Lansing, Michigan, protester say he has COVID-19?
A Facebook post claimed that a Lansing, Michigan, protester announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. There’s no public evidence that’s the case. Check it out»
Alex Mahadevan is a senior multimedia reporter at MediaWise. He can be reached at amahadevan@poynter.org or on Twitter at @AlexMahadevan. Follow MediaWise on TikTok.
