Coronavirus: US congressman claims there’s a ‘powder’ curing Germans of Covid-19

‘Any time in the next 14 days that the virus touches anything that’s been sprayed it is killed’

Republican congressman Louie Gohmert falsely claimed that Germany is using a powder to help prevent health care workers from contracting Covid-19.

Earlier this month, during an interview with KLTV in Texas, Mr Gohmert claimed that health care workers were being protected from coronavirus by the substance.

“It is being used in Germany as a mist,” Mr Gohmert said. “Health care workers go through a misting tent going into the hospital and it kills the coronavirus completely dead not only right then.

“Any time in the next 14 days that the virus touches anything that’s been sprayed it is killed.”

Mr Gohmert said the government was trying to get approval for the treatment in the US.

Madlin Mekelburg, of Politifact, fact-checked Mr Gohmert’s claims in an article for the Houston Chronicle.

Head of the German Hospital Association, Dr Jörn Wegner, told Ms Mekelburg that the congressman’s claims are incorrect.

“What your congressman said is absolute nonsense,” Dr Wegner said. “There are no such tents and there’s no powder or magical cure.”

He added that “the only protection against the virus are personal protection equipment — masks, disposable coats and gloves — and proper hygiene.”

In March, Mr Gohmert gave students a tour of the US capitol, less than 14 days after being exposed to the coronavirus.

He released a statement, explaining that he had spoken to a CDC physician before going back to work.

“We discussed all the specific circumstances of which he was aware along with my circumstances, including that I was and am asymptomatic, he said that all things considered I was cleared to return to Washington.

“He said he would return if he were me and advised that my staff and I should just be careful to observe proper hygiene protocols.”

Mr Gohmert added: “I took the advice of the expert and returned to work. No one is panicking and we are observing the recommended precautions.”

Google’s dedicated coronavirus page shows that Texas has upwards of 18,923 confirmed cases and at least 477 deaths.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, nationally there are upwards of 760,425 people who have tested positive for coronavirus. The death toll has reached at least 40,690.