A Peruvian doctor in charge of his region’s coronavirus response has been fired after recommending people ingest chlorine dioxide, an industrial disinfectant similar to bleach.
Amílcar Huancahuari, who was head of the Covid-19 response in the southern region of Ayacucho, said the chemical should be distributed to everyone with coronavirus symptoms, despite it not being suitable for human consumption.
During a press conference he claimed chlorine dioxide had “already been tested with people with Covid-19 and they have improved remarkably”.
Ayacucho governor Carlos Rúa then held a follow-up press conference to say Huancahuari’s comments were made in a personal capacity, because he hadn’t discussed chlorine dioxide in any official meetings.
A few hours later Rúa announced that the doctor had been dismissed from his post.
— BBC