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NEW @PolitiFactTexas alert: U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert told @KLTV7 that Germany is using a powder + water as a mist on health care workers. He says the mist can kill coronavirus on contact and can continue to kill the virus for 14 days on a sprayed surface.
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/09/louie-gohmert/no-powder-germany-cant-kill-coronavirus-contact-an/
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/09/louie-gohmert/no-powder-germany-cant-kill-coronavirus-contact-an/
He also mentioned that an Arizona company is building a similar product that he is trying to get "fast-tracked" in the United States.
Gohmert's team did not return multiple requests for more information about this company in Arizona or about what this "powder" actually is.
Gohmert's team did not return multiple requests for more information about this company in Arizona or about what this "powder" actually is.
I spoke with officials at the German Hospital Association, the Federal Ministry of Health and the German Society of Hospital Hygiene.
All of them said the same thing: there is no product like this in use in Germany.
One told me he had not heard of a "magic powder" like this.
All of them said the same thing: there is no product like this in use in Germany.
One told me he had not heard of a "magic powder" like this.
Also, disinfecting products being used against the coronavirus (and in general) all have a "contact time" — the amount of time a surface needs to stay wet with a product in order for it to be effective.
This ranges from 5 seconds to 15 mins.
This ranges from 5 seconds to 15 mins.
In summary: No product like this seems to exist and no product or misting station like the ones Gohmert described are being used in Germany outside of hospitals.
We rated his claim Pants on Fire.
Read all about it: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/09/louie-gohmert/no-powder-germany-cant-kill-coronavirus-contact-an/
We rated his claim Pants on Fire.
Read all about it: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/09/louie-gohmert/no-powder-germany-cant-kill-coronavirus-contact-an/
