Friday, April 24, 2020

Lysol and lightbulbs

Donald Trump*’s irresponsible, dangerous suggestion that disinfectants, used internally, might kill the coronavirus has prompted Reckitt Benckiser, maker of Lysol, to issue a disclaimer:

Due to recent speculation and social media activity, RB (the makers of Lysol and Dettol) has been asked whether internal administration of disinfectants may be appropriate for investigation or use as a treatment for coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion, or any other route). As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information.

We have a responsibility in providing consumers with access to accurate, up-to-date information as advised by leading public health experts. For this and other myth-busting facts, please visit Covid-19facts.com.
Here, “recent speculation” is a euphemism for executive-level Dunning-Kruger freestyling imbecility, unfiltered.

As for Trump*’s suggestion that light might kill the virus in the body, I suggest one old-fashioned lightbulb (the kind Trump* likes) for his mouth, and one for — never mind. Treatment best administered while the patient watches television.

And please, no one, not even a nationally known cartoonist, can convince me that Trump* was talking about “far-UV light catheter technology.” Please.

Here are Reckitt Benckiser’s words as a link: Covid-19facts.com.

*

Trump* today is claiming that his suggestions were sarcasm directed at reporters. He’s lying of course, as the video record makes clear. Dr. Deborah Birx says today that Trump* was “still digesting” new information as he was speaking. Which I think might mean that he threw up.

[The relevant section of the briefing begins at 20:26. Notice that Trump*’s comments immediately followed William Bryan’s comments on light, disinfectants, and their use on surfaces. Notice too that Scott Adams’s evidence for his claim about “far-UV light catheter technology” is a YouTube video uploaded thirteen hours ago, to an account created yesterday, with this one video to its name. As of April 25, the video is gone: “This video has been removed for violating YouTube’s Community Guidelines.”]

comments: 12

The Crow said...

And, yet...

Michael Leddy said...

Yes, believers are gonna believe.

Fresca said...

Don't drink the Kool-Aid!

Michael Leddy said...

Only aquarium cleaner!

Anonymous said...

And to make the comments even scarier the CDC just released their stats on poisoning by cleaners and disinfectants for this year (Jan.-March). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6916e1.htm

The stats are truly interesting: so the 0-5 age group has essentially remained constant for 3 years and the 20-59 year olds seem to be lacking in common sense.

Obviously there seems to be a real lack of education regarding disinfectants and cleaners as the numbers tend to be the same every year.

How soon before we see stories on people attempting to rid themselves of the thing by attempting to do what he thinks? They are already tried with the hydro- stuff.

Kirsten

Michael Leddy said...

Context.

Michael Leddy said...

Kirsten, I added the “context” link before seeing your comment. But it fits.

zzi said...

There's always Clorox baths.

Michael Leddy said...

Not for internal use.

Michael Leddy said...

Oh, wait — I didn't know that a Clorox bath was a thing until I looked it up. I see that the Mayo Clinic covers it as a treatment for eczema (a tiny amount of bleach in a bathtub of water). Then I looked it up on Twitter. So now I see what you did there. But don’t you realize, zzi, that whataboutism is a losing game? That Cristina Cuomo touts Clorox baths doesn’t make suggestions about injecting disinfectant any sounder. Mehmet Oz, Rudolph Giuliani, Phil McGraw (not a doctor), Cristina Cuomo — none of them are reliable witnesses here. (I daresay that the first three and the president all have much larger audience shares than Cristina Cuomo.)

If Eddie Haskell tells the Beav to jump off a bridge, it’s no defense to say that Lumpy Rutherford told the Beav to stick his hand in an electrical outlet. Wally’s friends are both miscreants.

zzi said...

Not a miscreant, a creep. Maybe in "Save by the Bell."

Michael Leddy said...

Okay, I can see that you’re better at Leave It to Beaver language than I am. But I think miscreant fits: “one who behaves criminally or viciously.” The examples I offered exceed the bounds of the Cleaver-world.

But as my wife just asked me, “What is he trying to prove?” You bring up Cristina Cuomo on a post about the president’s dangerous out-loud ignorance, and then you quibble about how to characterize someone who tells a kid to jump off a bridge or stick a hand in an electrical outlet. Are you being, uhh, sarcastic? Are you saying things to see what will happen? Either way, I’m done, which means that you’re done too.