Don't drink bleach to prevent coronavirus, poison control center warns
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 11: Bottles of Clorox bleach sit on a shelf at a grocery store on February 11, 2011 in San Francisco, California. Shares of Clorox stock rose 7.6 percent to close at $71.26 after billionaire investor Carl Icahn disclosed
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - This really shouldn't be something that people need to be told, but apparently some need a reminder: drinking bleach will not prevent you from getting the coronavirus.
In a letter obtained by WCAV, the Blue Ridge Poison Center in Virginia warns the public that bleach is for cleaning, not drinking, and could cause serious harm.
RELATED: Landlord stops rent collection for tenants struggling during the coronavirus outbreak
"There is a lot of confusing, incomplete, and just plain inaccurate information circulating about how to prevent the COVID-19 virus (“coronavirus”) from spreading. Some advice measures simply won’t help, and some could be downright dangerous. The Blue Ridge Poison Center at UVA Health warns that drinking bleach will not prevent COVID-19 infections and could cause serious injury."
The center goes on to say that cleaning products like bleach can cause burns when swallowed or when sprayed or splashed onto the skin or into the eyes.
RELATED: Walt Disney World donates food after coronavirus fears close parks, hotels, stores
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends diluting bleach (five tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water) when using it to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
When used correctly, bleach can be very effective against the spread of the coronavirus, the CDC said.
For a list of recommended products to use against the coronavirus, click HERE.