Question & Answer

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On Thursday 23rdApril 2020, the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, said at a press briefing: “And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute! 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 would be interesting to check that. So, that, you’re going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds interesting to me.”
This statement followed a statement by Head of Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology, Bill Bryan, who presented research findings that bleach and other disinfectants killed the coronavirus when sprayed on surfaces.
No evidence exists to support the claim that injecting disinfectant into the human body prevents or treats COVID-19.
Do not under any circumstance inject, drink or inhale bleach or any other disinfectant into your body. These substances can be poisonous if taken into the body, and contact with them can irritate and damage the skin and eyes (WHO 2020).
People injecting bleach (by accident or deliberately) has resulted in them having a brain injury, blood clots, and kidney and liver damage.
Bleach and disinfectant should be used carefully to disinfect surfaces only. Remember to keep bleach and other disinfectants out of reach of children (WHO 2020) and protect your skin and eyes from bleach when you are using it to clean surfaces.

Opinions alone are not a reliable basis for claims about the effects of treatments.
Just because a treatment claim is made by someone in authority, you cannot be sure that it is trustworthy unless it is clearly based on a summary of fair comparisons.
Ask yourself how sure you are that the possible advantages are better than the disadvantages.

Lead Researcher: Dr Nikita Burke, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Evidence Synthesis Ireland NUI Galway
Reviewed by: Professor Declan Devane, School of Nursing and Midwifery, HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, Evidence Synthesis Ireland & Cochrane Ireland, NUI Galway.
Evidence Advisor: Dr Frank Moriarty, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
Evidence Advisor: Deirdre Mac Loughlin, PPI Ignite, NUI Galway.
Journalist Advisor: Dr Claire O’Connell, Contributor, The Irish Times.