Frequently Asked Questions about Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that commonly infect animals and humans. In humans most coronaviruses tend to cause cold-like symptom. However, on the rare occasions when one of these animal coronaviruses infect humans, they can cause more severe illness. Examples of more serious infections caused by coronaviruses include Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).[i],[ii]

A novel coronavirus is the name for a coronavirus that has never infected people before. [i],[ii] This recent new strain of coronavirus has been named SARS-CoV-2. The disease caused by this novel coronavirus has been named COVID-19.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are reported to include a fever, tiredness and a cough. Other symptoms may include:

Fever

Chills

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Headache

Sore throat

New loss of taste or smell

More severe symptoms can include breathing difficulties and pneumonia which may be life threatening for some people. [i],[iii]

We recommend that you follow the guidelines set out by your local health authority when seeking the help or advice of a health professional.

Health experts are still working to better understand the virus. Like other coronaviruses, COVID19 is probably spread from person to person either by direct inhalation of respiratory droplets expelled when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. It is also thought to be transmitted indirectly via the hands, after picking up the virus from surfaces contaminated with these droplets and transferring them to the eyes, nose or mouth.

As this is a serious health situation, we recommend that you follow closely the advice of the Public Health Agency of Canada or that of Global Authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding personal hygiene and maintaining a social distance.

Many Lysol® products are Health Canada registered to kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria which may include the Human Coronavirus. Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a new coronavirus strain, according to Health Canada.

Specific Lysol products have received formal regulatory approval from Health Canada that demonstrate effectiveness (>99.9% inactivation) against SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19), when used in accordance with the directions for use. The products are: LYSOL® BRAND II DISINFECTANT SPRAY, DIN 02448971 and LYSOL® DISINFECTING WIPES, DIN 02359014.

To ensure effective use of your Lysol® product, follow the instructions on the back of the label. To learn more visit the Lysol® Product Page.

Make sure you follow the on-pack instructions and use the product as intended. Not all Lysol® products are intended to be used on hands or other parts of the body. Lysol should not be used directly on food. Please consult the WHO for guidelines on ensuring and treating any food products.

For any additional concerns, please contact your healthcare provider.

With regards to disinfecting surfaces, Health Canada /WHO advice is to Health Canada recommends cleaning high-touch hard surfaces often, using either regular household cleaners or diluted bleach according to the label directions. This bleach solution should be prepared according to the instructions on the label or in a ratio of 250 mL (1 cup) of water per 5 mL (1 teaspoon) of bleach. Directions are based on bleach that is 5% sodium hypochlorite, to give a 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution. Never mix bleach with other chemical products and use it in a well-ventilated area. Special precautions must be used when cleaning with bleach to avoid serious incidents.

These surfaces include:

toilets

phones

electronics

door handles

bedside tables

television remotes

Given the rapid spread of the COVID-19 in Canada, our top priority at this time is increasing our production to help curb the spread of illness. We are experiencing unprecedented and accelerated demand for our Lysol® products, and this demand is clearly having an impact on store inventory levels. Our teams are actively working around the clock to increase production and delivery to our retailers, with the goal to maximize access to our products. As demand remains extraordinarily high, we recognize that it is difficult to locate products that you may be looking for. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding.

We have increased production during these unprecedented times and are doing everything we can to deliver as much products possible to our retailers. Stock of product on shelves will vary day by day and we advise you to ask your retailer when they will be receiving their next shipments. We ask that consumers purchase only what they need so that everyone can work together to stop the spread. We have secured additional Lysol Disinfecting Wipes to help Canadians keep themselves and their loved ones illness free. Please note, these wipes will be available in flatpack packaging. These are different from our Lysol Canisters in terms of appearance and packaging, but deliver the same sanitizing and disinfecting results. Canisters will also be available at this time. Both products are by Lysol® and guarantee 99.9% germ kill.