- WHO: Spraying ineffective, risky
- China warned vs. virus 2nd wave
Spraying disinfectant on the streets, as practiced in some countries, does not eliminate the new coronavirus and even poses a health risk, the World Health Organization warned.
In a document on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces as part of the response to the virus, the WHO said spraying can be ineffective.
“Spraying or fumigation of outdoor spaces, such as streets or marketplaces, is… not recommended to kill the COVID-19 virus or other pathogens because disinfectant is inactivated by dirt and debris.”
“Even in the absence of organic matter, chemical spraying is unlikely to adequately cover all surfaces for the duration of the required contact time needed to inactivate pathogens.”
The WHO said that streets and pavements are not considered as “reservoirs of infection” of COVID-19, adding that spraying disinfectants, even outside, can be “dangerous for human health.”
China warned of virus 2nd wave
China faces a potential second wave of coronavirus infections due to a lack of immunity among its population, its government’s senior medical advisor has warned.
After months of lockdowns and curbs on travel, China has largely brought the virus under control, but fears of a second wave have risen as clusters have emerged in northeast provinces and in the central city of Wuhan.
“The majority of… Chinese at the moment are still susceptible of the Covid-19 infection, because (of) a lack of immunity,” Zhong Nanshan, the public face of government’s response to the pandemic, told CNN.
“We are facing (a) big challenge,” Zhong added. “It’s not better than the foreign countries I think at the moment.”
Zhong, who helped expose the scale of the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, also said authorities in ground-zero Wuhan had under-reported cases during the early days of the pandemic.
Russia: Under 10,000 new cases
Russia on Sunday recorded under 10,000 new cases for the third time this week, but fluctuating figures since the start of May suggest it is too early to detect a clear downward trend.
The country has the second-highest number of infections in the world at 281,752.
On Sunday, the Russian health authorities confirmed 9,709 new cases. Two other days this week also saw fewer than 10,000 new cases.
The country also announced 94 new deaths, slightly down from Saturday’s figure of 119 that was the highest daily toll yet.
Critics have cast doubt on Russia’s low official mortality rate, accusing authorities of under-reporting deaths in order to play down the scale of the crisis.