EPA approves Lysol Disinfectant Spray as effective against Covid-19
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Jul 9, 2020
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the use of two types of spray against coronavirus.
The virus causes COVID-19, a disease that can lead to death in a small percentage of patients.
In the meantime, you can use the next best thing: seven disinfecting products that the EPA approved to help protect against emerging enveloped viral pathogens, such as the coronavirus.
The EPA has previously listed 420 disinfectants based on tests with viruses that are harder to kill than the coronavirus, but the two Lysol products are the first to be successfully tested against SARS-CoV-2.
"EPA approval recognizes that the use of Lysol Desinfectant Spray can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 on hard, non-porous surfaces", said Rahul Kadyan, EVP NA Hygiene for Reckitt Benckiser, the parent company of Lysol. The disinfectants are meant for surfaces, not humans.
Unfortunately, both the Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Max Cover Disinfectant Mist are sold out everywhere we looked online.
Products can't legally make claims about killing certain pathogens, including COVID-19, without a review and authorization from the EPA, the release says.
"Our investment in research is a part of our relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world", Ferran Rousaud, marketing director for Lysol, which is manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser, said Monday in a statement.
"EPA's review of products tested against this virus marks an important milestone in President Trump's all of government approach to fighting the spread of COVID-19", Andrew Wheeler, the administrator of the agency, said in a statement. However, the agency plans to approve the claims for additional products on the list in the coming weeks - all of which already meet a standard of effectiveness against the virus.