Recently, a local politician took to mainstream media calling all parties to stop dismissing public sanitisation exercises as a Covid-19 prevention measure, has received much backlash from the medical community stating that funds could be better used elsewhere.
Working under the pretence that they are doing the public a world of good, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin said that more aggressive action must be taken to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.
Taking to Twitter, Cardiologist @DrBeniRusani said that outdoor disinfection efforts does nothing but waste tax-payer’s money and resources.
“Outdoor disinfection is not based on science. Waste of taxpayers money and resources.”
“Exposure to chemicals may harm people.”
Representing Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, Dr Beni quoted a statement from the United States Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) stating “Spraying cleaning products or disinfectants in outdoor areas – such as on sidewalks, roads or groundcover – is not necessary, effective or recommended.”
“WHO has also alerted the hazards of public disinfection exercise noting that spraying or fogging of certain chemicals such as formaldehyde chlorine-based agent or quaternary ammonium is not recommended, due to adverse health effects.”
Let’s hope that future suggestions to perform public sanitation after this will be given ample consideration, and will sought advise from the medical community.
Also read: Photos: Individual With Close Contact Causes Congestion At WTC KL Vaccination Centre
