DOH slammed for discouraging spraying, misting at the height of COVID-19 prevention efforts

Deputy Speaker Dan Fernandez on Sunday slammed the Department of Health (DOH) for advising against spraying or misting as a disinfection method against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as it seemed to take away the public's defenses at the height of the fight against the virus.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Fernandez claimed that it was the DOH who presented the public alternative ways to disinfect, yet it would eventually say there is no evidence to support that spraying and misting with disinfecting agents actually kill the virus.

Fernandez said that while there is no proof that these methods are effective against the virus, there is likewise no evidence to show that they are not effective.

"After teaching our people to use this disinfectant at ginamit na ng mga LGUs at ginamit na rin ng ating mga barangay at lahat, and then suddenly sasabihin nila na 'Stop, hindi niyo puwedeng gawin ito dahil may danger ito sa skin irritation, meron din sa pulmonary o respiratory problems, o nakaka-endanger ng ating environment,'" he said.

"Somehow, parang error of judgment sa kanila. Kasi nga after so many weeks na ginagawa na natin ito at nagkaroon tayo ng parang sinasabi na confidence sa paglaban sa COVID-19, nagkaroon tayo ng ammunition para labanan ito. Then suddenly sasabihin mo na hindi ito epektibo," he added.

Fernandez said the public has already spent time, effort and money for these disinfecting methods by the time the DOH discouraged them to do so.

He said it is as if the DOH took away the public's defenses against the virus.

"Parang nasa gitna tayo ng digmaan at sasabihin ngayon ng DOH, 'Tanggalin mo na 'yang sandata mo at hindi 'yan ang tamang sandata,'" he said.

"Sinong makakapagsabi ngayon na ito ang dapat na panlaban at ito ang hindi tamang panlaban dahil hindi nga natin alam paano mapupuksa ang COVID-19?" he added.

Fernandez said it is better for now to bring out all possible methods to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"Dapat lahat ng sandatang gagamitin natin sa labang ito ay ilabas na natin. Baka sakali ito makapuksa sa hindi nakikitang kalaban," he said.

The DOH said that instead of spraying and misting, the public should just soak objects and disinfect surfaces to kill the virus.

"Everyone should not spray or mist disinfectants at this time. Soak objects completely or disinfect surfaces directly to kill the virus," it said.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government on Saturday said local government units will be discouraged from spraying or misting as a means of disinfection against COVID-19.

“Since they [in the DOH ] lead the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases), and since this is a health matter, we respect their advisory and will advise all LGUs accordingly,” Interior Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya told GMA News Online.

As of Saturday, there were a total of 4,428 reported cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, with 247 deaths and 157 recoveries. —KG, GMA News