2 Lysol Products Kill CCP Virus on Surfaces: EPA

A Costco employee sprays disinfectant on shopping carts in Arlington, Va., on May 24, 2020. Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

Two Lysol products effectively kill the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus on surfaces, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said.

The virus causes COVID-19, a disease that can lead to death in a small percentage of patients.

Laboratory testing shows Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist are effective against the CCP virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2.

“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.

The EPA lists hundreds of disinfectants that meet the agency’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2 because they’ve proven effective against viruses that are harder-to-kill than the CCP virus. The Lysol products are the first two to be tested successfully against the virus itself.

Lysol is currently testing the efficacy of other products against the new virus, the company said in a statement.

“The EPA’s approval recognizes that using Lysol Disinfectant Spray can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on hard, non-porous surfaces,” said Rahul Kadyan, executive vice president of Reckitt Benckiser in North America, Lysol’s parent company.

“In the face of the pandemic, Lysol continues to work with a wide range of scientific and health experts to educate the public on the importance of hygiene.”

A member of staff disinfects goal posts during a drinks break in a Premier League match in London, UK, on July 7, 2020. Peter Cziborra/Pool/Getty Images

Unsafe Use

A survey conducted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found respondents had limited knowledge of how to safely prepare cleaning and disinfectant solutions.

Mixing of bleach solutions with vinegar or ammonia, as well as application of heat, can generate chlorine and chloramine gases that might result in severe lung tissue damage when inhaled, the CDC said.

Only 35 percent of respondents said bleach shouldn’t be mixed with vinegar, with 58 percent agreeing that bleach shouldn’t be mixed with ammonia.

More respondents had knowledge about personal protective equipment, with 64 percent saying eye protection was recommended for use of some cleaners and 71 percent agreeing that gloves were recommended.

The Internet-only survey was conducted by Porter Novelli Public Services and ENGINE Insights on May. Five hundred and two adults 18 or older responded.

Based on the results, the CDC said, COVID-19 prevention messages should keep emphasizing “evidence-based, safe practices” like frequent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces.

The messages should include specific recommendations for the safe use of cleaners and disinfectants, including the importance of reading and following label instructions, using water at room temperature for dilution (unless otherwise stated on the label), avoiding mixing of chemical products, wearing skin protection, and considering eye protection for potential splash hazards.