Covid-19: Morocco bans walk-through disinfectant gates

Moroccan authorities have banned the use and marketing of “walk-through disinfectant gates” because the used hazardous substances pose serious health risks to people.

A joint press release issued Wednesday by the ministries of the Interior, Health, and Trade said the setting up and sale of these “sanitizing gates” are strictly banned in the country because the chemicals used as disinfectant pose health hazards.

Furthermore, there are no scientific proofs of their efficiency against the coronavirus pandemic.

These gates, tunnels or chambers can be used to sanitize equipment and products destined for storage, packaging, handling and goods transport, stresses the joint communiqué.

Thus all gates installed at the entrance of companies, public spaces or in any other place must be removed, say the Moroccan authorities, warning that violators will be prosecuted.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), spraying alcohol or chlorine or other chemicals on people will not kill covid-19 that has already entered the human body.

On the contrary, such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (eyes, mouth…). Both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used according to some guidelines.