Two disinfectants proved lethal against COVID-19 for first time, lab testing shows
The first surface disinfectants tested on COVID-19 were approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist were effective in killing the virus in laboratory testing and were approved last week, the EPA said in a news release Monday, but it doesn’t mean they’re the only products that can be used effectively against the virus.
The coronavirus is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it’s possible someone could contract the virus by touching an object or surface with the virus on it then touching their face.
So the CDC recommends routinely cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
Products can’t legally make claims about killing certain pathogens, including COVID-19, without a review and authorization from the EPA, the release says.
Since new viruses can’t always be tested right away, the agency has “Emerging Viral Pathogens” guidance that allows manufacturers to submit data that show their products are effective against “harder-to-kill viruses” than COVID-19. It activated the guidance for the first time in January in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
More than 420 products are on the EPA’s list of products that meet its criteria for use against COVID-19, known as List N. It includes some Clorox products and products from other major cleaning brands as well as many bleach products.
The list is updated as needed and products included on it can be found here.
The two Lysol products were the first List N products for which the EPA reviewed lab testing data and approved label claims. 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.
It’s important to follow label instructions for all EPA-approved products, the agency says.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 12:11 PM with the headline "Two disinfectants proved lethal against COVID-19 for first time, lab testing shows."
