Duterte repeats advice to use gasoline as a COVID-19 disinfectant

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday again suggested that, aside from following the basic COVID-19 health protocols,  gasoline or fuel from a gas station could be used as a COVID-19 disinfectant.

“Sabi ko nga sa inyo punta kayo sa gasolinahan, hindi ako nagpapatawa, pagtubig [ang ginamit ninyo panghugas ng kamay] may maiwan talaga yan, kakaunti. Pagtapos, pag-pump niyan sa sasakyan, meron yan. Eh 'di maghingi ka na, sabihin mo, ‘Maghugas lang ako,’” advised Duterte during the Talk To The People briefing.

In July 2020, Duterte had offered similar advise and doubled down on the suggestion by emphasizing that he was not kidding.

“Totoo’ yang sinabi ko, alcohol. ‘Pag walang alcohol available, hindi ka naman puwede, lalo mahirap, pupunta ka lang diyan sa gasoline station. Pagkatapos magpatulo. That’s disinfectant,” said the President last year. 

Health protocols, vaccines

Meanwhile, in the same briefing, Health Secretary Francisco Duque emphasized that basic COVID-19 health protocols provide the same or even better protection against the novelcoronavirus illness as vaccines.

“Dahil nagtaas na naman [ang mga kaso ng COVID-19], kailangan mas mabilis, mas enforced ang pagsasaktuparan ng strategies. Kailangan sumunod sa pagsuot ng face shield, face mask; physical distancing; at regular na pag-sanitize ng kamay at ng gamit na madalas hawakan,” said Duque during the weekly.

“Kung susundin naitn ito, ang proteksyon na binibigay nito ay the same or higher than the vaccines.”

Duque also revealed that national government officials had met with Metro Manila Mayors last Saturday to discuss actions that could be taken to reverse the recent sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the capital region.

“Pinulong ang NCR mayors nung Sabado at pinaalalahanan na paigitngan ang pagsasakatuparan ng prevention, detection, aggressive isolation and treatment response para maputol ang kadena ng hawaan, at madurog ang pagkumpol-kumpol ng kaso sa kanilang lugar,” said the Health Secretary.

The OCTA Research Group had warned on Sunday that the country could see 5,000 to 6,000 new COVID-19 cases per day, with Metro Manila projected to record 2,400 new COVID-19 cases per day, by the end of March. — DVM, GMA News