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At a press conference on April 23, US president Donald Trump floated the idea of injecting disinfectant into the body to treat coronavirus. Medical doctors were quick to denounce the suggestion and Reckitt Benckiser, the owner of the brands Dettol, Lysol, Vanish and Cillit Bang, said its household cleaning products should not be administered through "injection, ingestion or any other route.

Some patients in France had experienced adverse effects using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to treat the disease. The tweet has sparked rampant disinformation on WhatsApp and social media, but there is currently no strong evidence that ibuprofen can make coronavirus worse. Even so, the NHS is still advising that — until we have further evidence — people should avoid using ibuprofen to treat coronavirus symptoms and take paracetamol instead.

If you can't take paracetamol, or are taking ibuprofen on the advice of a doctor, make sure you check with a doctor before you make any changes to your medication. For the average person, regular hand washing and social distancing are the most important defences against picking up Sars-Cov-2 — the virus that causes Covid Face masks work by blocking droplets from coughs and sneezes that are the main transmission route of coronavirus, but not all masks are effective at filtering out very small particles and viruses can still enter through the eyes.

That said, governments that initially resisted recommending wearing masks are starting to soften their stance towards the practice. The scientific evidence is mixed on whether wearing masks is helpful for people in normal life, but all of Germany's states now require citizens to wear face masks while on public transport, while Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Bulgaria have all recommended wearing masks. Wearing masks isn't just about protecting yourself from others — it's about stopping the wearer transmitting the disease too, as well as signalling to other people that you're taking social distancing seriously.

Even a simple cloth mask can help with that. Updated He tweets from mattsreynolds1. Primary Care. Mental Health. More Button Icon Circle with three vertical dots. It indicates a way to see more nav menu items inside the site menu by triggering the side menu to open and close. Rebecca Cairns. This article was medically reviewed by Tania Elliott , MD, who specializes in infectious diseases related to allergies and immunology for internal medicine at NYU Langone Health.

Our stories are reviewed by medical professionals to ensure you get the most accurate and useful information about your health and wellness. Prolonged and repeated use of alcohol as a disinfectant can also cause discoloration, swelling, hardening and cracking of rubber and certain plastics.

Bleach is a strong and effective disinfectant — its active ingredient sodium hypochlorite is effective in killing bacteria, fungi and viruses, including influenza virus — but it is easily inactivated by organic material. Diluted household bleach disinfects within 10—60 minutes contact time see Table G. However, bleach irritates mucous membranes, the skin and the airways; decomposes under heat and light; and reacts easily with other chemicals.

Therefore, bleach should be used with caution; ventilation should be adequate and consistent with relevant occupational health and safety guidance. Improper use of bleach, including deviation from recommended dilutions either stronger or weaker , may reduce its effectiveness for disinfection and can injure health-care workers. All rights reserved. Turn recording back on.

National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Show details Geneva: World Health Organization ; Search term. Can it kill germs? Types of germs How to use What else works? Can alcohol kill germs? Can alcohol kill all types of germs or only some types? How to use alcohol effectively for disinfection. What else can kill germs on your hands or surfaces?

Can drinking alcohol kill viruses and bacteria? The bottom line. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. All About Germaphobia. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD. Can You Use Vinegar as a Disinfectant? The 9 Dirtiest Spots in Your Home.