🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 84 (from laksa140)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa084.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html","crawl_time":1773070867,"first_indexed_time":1587730260,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,nytimes!www,\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html s443","src_root_hash":"4566504020376537684","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Trump Muses About Light as Remedy, but Also Disinfectant, Which Is Dangerous - The New York Times","meta_descriptions":["At a briefing, the president promoted unproven treatments and asked Dr. Deborah Birx if she had heard of the success of sunlight as a tool against viruses."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Advertisement\nSKIP ADVERTISEMENT\nAt a briefing, the president promoted unproven treatments and asked Dr. Deborah Birx if she had heard of the success of sunlight as a tool against viruses.\nVideo\nAt the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, President Trump pushed dangerous and unproven theories about treatments involving household disinfectant and ultraviolet light.\nCredit\nCredit...\nAl Drago for The New York Times\nApril 24, 2020\nPresident Trump has long pinned his hopes on the powers of sunlight to defeat the Covid-19 virus. He returned to that theme at the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, bringing in a science administrator to back up his assertions and eagerly theorizing about treatments involving the use of household disinfectant that would be dangerous if put inside the body, as well as the power of sunlight and ultraviolet light.\nAfter the administrator,\nWilliam N. Bryan\n, the head of science at the Department of Homeland Security, told the briefing that the agency had tested how sunlight and disinfectants —\nincluding bleach and alcohol\n— can kill the coronavirus on surfaces in as little as 30 seconds, an excited Mr. Trump returned to the lectern.\n“Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light,” Mr. Trump said. “And I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but we’re going to test it?” he added, turning to Mr. Bryan, who had returned to his seat. “And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, either through the skin or some other way.”\nApparently reassured that the tests he was proposing would take place, Mr. Trump then theorized about the possible medical benefits of disinfectants in the fight against the virus.\n“And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” he asked. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”\nExperts\nhave long warned\nthat ultraviolet lamps can harm humans if used improperly — when the exposure is outside the body, much less inside. The link between ultraviolet light and skin cancer is well established. Bleach and other disinfectants may kill microbes but they also can kill humans if swallowed or if fumes are too powerful. That is why bottles of bleach and other disinfectants carry sharp warnings of ingestion dangers.\nMr. Trump’s comments prompted an explosion of warnings about the dangers of any improvised remedies. Emergency management officials in Washington State\nposted a warning on Twitter\n. “Please don’t eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant,” they wrote, before urging the public to rely only on official medical advice about Covid-19. “Just don’t make a bad situation worse.”\nThe maker of the disinfectants\nLysol and Dettol also issued a statement on Friday\nwarning against the improper use of their products. “As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” the company said.\nBy Friday morning, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, issued a statement: “President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing. Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines.”\nIn the afternoon, Mr. Trump suggested that he was just kidding. “I was asking sarcastically to reporters just like you to see what would happen,” he told journalists as he signed the latest coronavirus relief bill into law.\nAt the Thursday briefing, Mr. Trump had assailed a reporter who expressed concern that people might “think they would be safe by going outside in the heat considering that so many people are dying in Florida.”\nPlease don't eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant.\nIf you do need help with\n#COVID19\nissues, we have lots of resources at\nhttps:\/\/t.co\/C4x8jjWL0x\nJust don't make a bad situation worse.\n— WA Emergency Management (@waEMD)\nApril 23, 2020\n“I hope people enjoy the sun, and if it has an impact, that’s great,” Mr. Trump said.\nMr. Trump then turned to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, and asked if she had heard of the success of sunlight as an effective tool against viruses, and more specifically the coronavirus.\n“Not as a treatment,” Dr. Birx replied. “I mean, certainly fever is a good thing when you have a fever. It helps your body respond. But not as — I have not seen heat or ….”\nMr. Trump cut short her answer.\n“I think that’s a great thing to look at,” he said. “I mean you know, OK?”\nOn Friday the White House also sent a corrected briefing transcript, which initially misrepresented Dr. Birx’s response. The Thursday transcript quoted Dr. Birx as saying, “That is a treatment”; the corrected version clarified that she indeed said, “Not as a treatment.”\nImage\nA portion of the corrected transcript that the White House released on Friday.\nMr. Trump has long touted various ideas against the coronavirus despite a lack of scientific evidence, from sunlight and warmer temperatures to an array of drugs, including the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine,\nwhich he has promoted\nas a “what have you got to lose” remedy.\nBut some of his recommendations, however, have had disastrous effects. Last month,\nan Arizona man died and his wife was hospitalized\nafter the couple ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine.\nAs the pandemic has spread to countries experiencing hot weather, including Australia and Iran, some groups have investigated whether the warmer summer season would slow the virus. Early this month, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences\nlooked exclusively\nat humidity and temperature and found that they would have a minimal impact on the virus.\nAt the Thursday briefing, Mr. Bryan said that the novel coronavirus dies rapidly when exposed to sunlight, high temperatures and humidity. He cited experiments the agency had conducted at a high-security laboratory in Frederick, Md.\n“Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus — both surfaces and in the air,” Mr. Bryan said. “We’ve seen a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well, where increasing the temperature and humidity, or both, is generally less favorable to the virus.”\nThe sunlight finding was no surprise to life scientists who, for many decades, have reported that ultraviolet light — an invisible but energetic part of the sun’s electromagnetic spectrum — can damage DNA, kill viruses and turn human skin cells from healthy to cancerous.\nFor public health, the big challenge is widening such narrow laboratory findings so they take into account how the global environment and its changing weather and endless nuances can impact the overall result — most especially on the question of whether the virus that causes Covid-19 will diminish in the summer. This week, a pair of ecological modelers at the University of Connecticut\nreported evidence\nthat balmy weather\nmay indeed slow\nthe coronavirus, but not enough to do away with the social-distancing measures advised by public health officials.\nThe inherent limitations of lab studies were driven home on April 7 in a letter to the White House from a National Academy of Sciences panel looking into research on the coronavirus. “With experimental studies,”\nthe panel said\n, “environmental conditions can be controlled, but almost always the conditions fail to adequately mimic those of the natural setting.”\nKatie Rogers contributed reporting.\nA correction was made on\nApril 24, 2020\n: \nAn earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to William N. Bryan. He is a science administrator in the federal government, not a scientist. It also misstated the substance consumed by a man and his wife in Arizona. They ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine, not a chemical found in the related compound hydroxychloroquine. \nWilliam J. Broad\nis a science journalist and senior writer. He joined The Times in 1983, and has shared two Pulitzer Prizes with his colleagues, as well as an Emmy Award and a DuPont Award.\nDan Levin\ncovers American youth for the National Desk. He was a foreign correspondent covering Canada from 2016 until 2018. From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Levin was based in Beijing, where he reported on human rights, politics and culture in China and Asia.\nA version of this article appears in print on\nApril 24, 2020\n, Section A, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Says Look to Light. Experts Urge Caution.\n.\nOrder Reprints\n|\nToday’s Paper\n|\nSubscribe\nRelated Content\nThe Covid-19 Pandemic\nRuth Fremson\/The New York Times\nCallaghan O'Hare for The New York Times\nEric Lee\/The New York Times\nMore in Health\nFederica Bordoni\nHesslefors\/ullstein bild, via Getty Images\nKent J. Edwards for The New York Times\nKristian Thacker for The New York Times\nEditors’ Picks\nIllustration by Tomi Um\nHilary Scott, via Boston Symphony Orchestra\nTrending in The Times\nEssam Al-Sudani\/Reuters\nSuzanne Saroff\nPhilip Lindeman\nTamir Kalifa for The New York Times\nAislinn Rose Photography\nJeff J Mitchell\/Getty Images\nFrederic J. Brown\/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images\nThilina Kaluthotage\/Reuters\nMert Alper Dervis\/Anadolu, via Getty Images\nSutton Images\/Getty Images\nAdvertisement\nSKIP ADVERTISEMENT","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#site-content)[Skip to site index](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#site-index)\n\nSearch & Section Navigation\n\nSection Navigation\n\nSearch\n\n[Health](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/health)\n\n[Log in](https:\/\/myaccount.nytimes.com\/auth\/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Fsubscription%2Fonboarding-offer%3FcampaignId%3D7JFJX%26EXIT_URI%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.nytimes.com%252F2020%252F04%252F24%252Fhealth%252Fsunlight-coronavirus-trump.html&asset=masthead)\n\nMonday, March 9, 2026\n\n[Today’s Paper](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/todayspaper)\n\n[Health](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/health)\\|Trump Muses About Light as Remedy, but Also Disinfectant, Which Is Dangerous\n\nhttps:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html\n\n- Share full article\n- 2\\.9k\n\nAdvertisement\n\n[SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-top)\n\nSupported by\n\n[SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-sponsor)\n# Trump Muses About Light as Remedy, but Also Disinfectant, Which Is Dangerous\nAt a briefing, the president promoted unproven treatments and asked Dr. Deborah Birx if she had heard of the success of sunlight as a tool against viruses.\n\n- Share full article\n- 2\\.9k\n\nVideo\n\nAt the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, President Trump pushed dangerous and unproven theories about treatments involving household disinfectant and ultraviolet light.CreditCredit...Al Drago for The New York Times\n\nBy [William J. Broad](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/by\/william-j-broad) and [Dan Levin](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/by\/dan-levin)\n\nApril 24, 2020\n\nPresident Trump has long pinned his hopes on the powers of sunlight to defeat the Covid-19 virus. He returned to that theme at the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, bringing in a science administrator to back up his assertions and eagerly theorizing about treatments involving the use of household disinfectant that would be dangerous if put inside the body, as well as the power of sunlight and ultraviolet light.\n\nAfter the administrator, [William N. Bryan](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/10\/10\/us\/politics\/william-bryan-homeland-security.html), the head of science at the Department of Homeland Security, told the briefing that the agency had tested how sunlight and disinfectants — [including bleach and alcohol](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/us\/disinfectant-inject-trump-coronavirus.html) — can kill the coronavirus on surfaces in as little as 30 seconds, an excited Mr. Trump returned to the lectern.\n\n“Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light,” Mr. Trump said. “And I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but we’re going to test it?” he added, turning to Mr. Bryan, who had returned to his seat. “And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, either through the skin or some other way.”\n\nApparently reassured that the tests he was proposing would take place, Mr. Trump then theorized about the possible medical benefits of disinfectants in the fight against the virus.\n\n“And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” he asked. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”\n\nExperts [have long warned](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20200327-can-you-kill-coronavirus-with-uv-light) that ultraviolet lamps can harm humans if used improperly — when the exposure is outside the body, much less inside. The link between ultraviolet light and skin cancer is well established. Bleach and other disinfectants may kill microbes but they also can kill humans if swallowed or if fumes are too powerful. That is why bottles of bleach and other disinfectants carry sharp warnings of ingestion dangers.\n\nMr. Trump’s comments prompted an explosion of warnings about the dangers of any improvised remedies. Emergency management officials in Washington State [posted a warning on Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/waEMD\/status\/1253473167017865216). “Please don’t eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant,” they wrote, before urging the public to rely only on official medical advice about Covid-19. “Just don’t make a bad situation worse.”\n\nThe maker of the disinfectants [Lysol and Dettol also issued a statement on Friday](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/us\/disinfectant-inject-trump-coronavirus.html) warning against the improper use of their products. “As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” the company said.\n\nBy Friday morning, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, issued a statement: “President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing. Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines.”\n\n## Editors’ Picks\n[![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/05\/t-magazine\/05tmag-milana-slide-NEYR-copy\/05tmag-milana-slide-NEYR-copy-thumbLarge.jpg)In Milan, an Endlessly Adaptable Family Home](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/05\/t-magazine\/mario-milana-home-milan-design.html)\n\n[![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/07\/multimedia\/07cul-watergate-museum-02-lbvh\/07cul-watergate-museum-02-lbvh-thumbLarge.jpg)A Washington Museum Zeros In on Presidential Scandal. From 50 Years Ago.](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/07\/arts\/design\/dc-watergate-museum-pop-up.html)\n\n[![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/07\/crosswords\/07gameplay-special-art\/07gameplay-special-art-thumbLarge.jpg)Celebrate the 1,000th Connections Puzzle](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/07\/crosswords\/connections-1000.html)\n\nAdvertisement\n\n[SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-pp_edpick)\n\nIn the afternoon, Mr. Trump suggested that he was just kidding. “I was asking sarcastically to reporters just like you to see what would happen,” he told journalists as he signed the latest coronavirus relief bill into law.\n\nAt the Thursday briefing, Mr. Trump had assailed a reporter who expressed concern that people might “think they would be safe by going outside in the heat considering that so many people are dying in Florida.”\n\n> Please don't eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant.   \n>   \n> If you do need help with [\\#COVID19](https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) issues, we have lots of resources at <https:\/\/t.co\/C4x8jjWL0x>   \n>   \n> Just don't make a bad situation worse.\n> \n> — WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) [April 23, 2020](https:\/\/twitter.com\/waEMD\/status\/1253473167017865216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)\n\n“I hope people enjoy the sun, and if it has an impact, that’s great,” Mr. Trump said.\n\nMr. Trump then turned to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, and asked if she had heard of the success of sunlight as an effective tool against viruses, and more specifically the coronavirus.\n\n“Not as a treatment,” Dr. Birx replied. “I mean, certainly fever is a good thing when you have a fever. It helps your body respond. But not as — I have not seen heat or ….”\n\nMr. Trump cut short her answer.\n\n“I think that’s a great thing to look at,” he said. “I mean you know, OK?”\n\nOn Friday the White House also sent a corrected briefing transcript, which initially misrepresented Dr. Birx’s response. The Thursday transcript quoted Dr. Birx as saying, “That is a treatment”; the corrected version clarified that she indeed said, “Not as a treatment.”\n\nImage\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2020\/04\/24\/us\/24virus-us-briefing-transcript-copy\/24virus-us-briefing-transcript-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n\nA portion of the corrected transcript that the White House released on Friday.\n\nMr. Trump has long touted various ideas against the coronavirus despite a lack of scientific evidence, from sunlight and warmer temperatures to an array of drugs, including the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, [which he has promoted](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/17\/health\/trump-hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus.html) as a “what have you got to lose” remedy.\n\nBut some of his recommendations, however, have had disastrous effects. Last month, [an Arizona man died and his wife was hospitalized](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/03\/24\/us\/chloroquine-poisoning-coronavirus.html) after the couple ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine.\n\nAs the pandemic has spread to countries experiencing hot weather, including Australia and Iran, some groups have investigated whether the warmer summer season would slow the virus. Early this month, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences [looked exclusively](https:\/\/www.nap.edu\/read\/25771\/chapter\/1) at humidity and temperature and found that they would have a minimal impact on the virus.\n\nAt the Thursday briefing, Mr. Bryan said that the novel coronavirus dies rapidly when exposed to sunlight, high temperatures and humidity. He cited experiments the agency had conducted at a high-security laboratory in Frederick, Md.\n\n“Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus — both surfaces and in the air,” Mr. Bryan said. “We’ve seen a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well, where increasing the temperature and humidity, or both, is generally less favorable to the virus.”\n\nThe sunlight finding was no surprise to life scientists who, for many decades, have reported that ultraviolet light — an invisible but energetic part of the sun’s electromagnetic spectrum — can damage DNA, kill viruses and turn human skin cells from healthy to cancerous.\n\nFor public health, the big challenge is widening such narrow laboratory findings so they take into account how the global environment and its changing weather and endless nuances can impact the overall result — most especially on the question of whether the virus that causes Covid-19 will diminish in the summer. This week, a pair of ecological modelers at the University of Connecticut [reported evidence](https:\/\/www.medrxiv.org\/content\/10.1101\/2020.04.19.20071951v1) that balmy weather [may indeed slow](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/coronavirus-summer-ultraviolet-light.html) the coronavirus, but not enough to do away with the social-distancing measures advised by public health officials.\n\nWarm Weather and the Coronavirus\n\n[![]()Please Do Not Eat Disinfectant](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/article\/coronavirus-disinfectant-inject-ingest.html)\n\n[![]()Trump’s Suggestion That Disinfectants Could Be Used to Treat Coronavirus Prompts Aggressive Pushback April 24, 2020](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/us\/politics\/trump-inject-disinfectant-bleach-coronavirus.html)\n\n[![]()Could the Power of the Sun Slow the Coronavirus? April 24, 2020](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/coronavirus-summer-ultraviolet-light.html)\n\n[![]()Summer Heat May Not Diminish Coronavirus Strength April 8, 2020](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/08\/health\/coronavirus-summer-weather.html)\n\n[![]()Warmer Weather May Slow, but Not Halt, Coronavirus March 22, 2020](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/03\/22\/health\/warm-weather-coronavirus.html)\n\nThe inherent limitations of lab studies were driven home on April 7 in a letter to the White House from a National Academy of Sciences panel looking into research on the coronavirus. “With experimental studies,” [the panel said](https:\/\/www.nap.edu\/read\/25771\/chapter\/1), “environmental conditions can be controlled, but almost always the conditions fail to adequately mimic those of the natural setting.”\n\nKatie Rogers contributed reporting.\n\n**A correction was made on**\n\nApril 24, 2020\n\n:\n\nAn earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to William N. Bryan. He is a science administrator in the federal government, not a scientist. It also misstated the substance consumed by a man and his wife in Arizona. They ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine, not a chemical found in the related compound hydroxychloroquine.\n\n***\nWhen we learn of a mistake, we acknowledge it with a correction. If you spot an error, please let us know at [corrections@nytimes.com](mailto:corrections@nytimes.com).[Learn more](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/explain\/2022\/new-york-times-journalism)\n\n[William J. Broad](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/by\/william-j-broad) is a science journalist and senior writer. He joined The Times in 1983, and has shared two Pulitzer Prizes with his colleagues, as well as an Emmy Award and a DuPont Award.\n\n[Dan Levin](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/by\/dan-levin) covers American youth for the National Desk. He was a foreign correspondent covering Canada from 2016 until 2018. From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Levin was based in Beijing, where he reported on human rights, politics and culture in China and Asia.\n\nA version of this article appears in print on April 24, 2020, Section A, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Says Look to Light. Experts Urge Caution.. [Order Reprints](https:\/\/nytimes.wrightsmedia.com\/) \\| [Today’s Paper](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/todayspaper) \\| [Subscribe](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscriptions\/Multiproduct\/lp8HYKU.html?campaignId=48JQY)\n\nSee more on: [Donald Trump](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/spotlight\/donald-trump), [Homeland Security Department](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/topic\/organization\/homeland-security-department)\n\nRead 2,854 comments\n\n- Share full article\n- 2\\.9k\n\n***\n## Discover More in Health and Science\n***\n- **St Elmo’s Fire:** A new study suggests that the phenomenon, which causes a violet glow during thunderstorms, [may be pretty common if you know how to look for it](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/02\/science\/trees-glowing-st-elmos-fire.html).\n- **Neanderthals’ Sex Lives:** In a study published in the journal Science, a team of researchers report that men with a lot of Neanderthal ancestry and women with a lot of modern human ancestry [had a strong preference to mate with each other](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/26\/science\/human-evolution-neanderthal-sex.html).\n- **How a T. Rex Ran****:** An analysis in the journal Royal Society Open Science reveals that the top of the dinosaur food [chain walked on tippy toes](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/24\/science\/tyrannosaurus-rex-tiptoes-dinosaurs.html), not unlike modern birds.\n- **Northern Lights in Norway:** The nation’s northern region [has led the scientific quest to understand the aurora borealis](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/24\/science\/norway-auroras-northern-lights-observatory.html). This summer, a 10,000-antenna radar is expected to begin the next phase of exploration.\n\n## Related Content\n### [The Covid-19 Pandemic](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/news-event\/coronavirus)\n- [Scientists Get a Glimpse of How New Pandemics Are Made](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/09\/science\/covid-coronavirus-evolution.html)\n  \n  ![A family physician testing patients for the Covid-19 virus at a clinic in Oregon in May 2020.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/10\/multimedia\/00HS-SCI-SPILLOVER-bpfv\/00HS-SCI-SPILLOVER-bpfv-thumbLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Ruth Fremson\/The New York Times\n- [As Kennedy Turns From Vaccines, MAHA Allies See a ‘Betrayal’](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/02\/health\/kennedy-maha-vaccines.html)\n  \n  ![Derrick Wynne was discharged from the Army for refusing a Covid shot. “He was using our movement to gain a huge amount of traction,” he said of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2025\/12\/05\/multimedia\/00hs-antivax-pqbj\/00hs-antivax-pqbj-thumbLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Callaghan O'Hare for The New York Times\n- [C.D.C.’s New Acting Director Draws Unexpected Praise From Agency Staff](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/26\/health\/cdc-bhattacharya-vaccinations-measles.html)\n  \n  Eric Lee\/The New York Times\n\n### [More in Health](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/health)\n- [Banks Are Becoming Bulwarks for Vulnerable Seniors](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/28\/health\/scams-elderly-banks.html)\n  \n  ![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/03\/science\/03sci-SPAN-financial-predators\/03sci-SPAN-financial-predators-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Federica Bordoni\n- [From 2001: Beate Uhse, 81, Entrepreneur in the Business of Erotic Goods](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/06\/world\/europe\/beate-uhse-dead.html)\n  \n  ![Beate Uhse in 1971, in front of her mail-order company headquarters in Flensburg, Germany.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/06\/obituaries\/06whm-uhse-obit\/06whm-uhse-obit-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Hesslefors\/ullstein bild, via Getty Images\n- [They Helped Her Open a Weed Shop. 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A lake is in the center of the park.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/07\/multimedia\/07sp-australian-melbourne-inyt\/07sp-australian-melbourne-inyt-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Sutton Images\/Getty Images\n\nAdvertisement\n\n[SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-bottom)\n\n## Site Index\n[Go to Home Page »](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/)\n\nNews\n\n- [Home Page](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/)\n- [U.S.](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/us)\n- [World](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/world)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/politics)\n- [New York](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/nyregion)\n- [Education](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/education)\n- [Sports](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/sports)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/business)\n- [Tech](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/technology)\n- 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[Canada](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/ca\/)\n- [International](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/international\/)\n- [Help](https:\/\/help.nytimes.com\/hc\/en-us)\n- [Subscriptions](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscription?campaignId=37WXW)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Advertisement\n\n[SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-top)\n\nAt a briefing, the president promoted unproven treatments and asked Dr. Deborah Birx if she had heard of the success of sunlight as a tool against viruses.\n\nVideo\n\nAt the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, President Trump pushed dangerous and unproven theories about treatments involving household disinfectant and ultraviolet light.CreditCredit...Al Drago for The New York Times\n\nApril 24, 2020\n\nPresident Trump has long pinned his hopes on the powers of sunlight to defeat the Covid-19 virus. He returned to that theme at the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, bringing in a science administrator to back up his assertions and eagerly theorizing about treatments involving the use of household disinfectant that would be dangerous if put inside the body, as well as the power of sunlight and ultraviolet light.\n\nAfter the administrator, [William N. Bryan](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/10\/10\/us\/politics\/william-bryan-homeland-security.html), the head of science at the Department of Homeland Security, told the briefing that the agency had tested how sunlight and disinfectants — [including bleach and alcohol](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/us\/disinfectant-inject-trump-coronavirus.html) — can kill the coronavirus on surfaces in as little as 30 seconds, an excited Mr. Trump returned to the lectern.\n\n“Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light,” Mr. Trump said. “And I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but we’re going to test it?” he added, turning to Mr. Bryan, who had returned to his seat. “And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, either through the skin or some other way.”\n\nApparently reassured that the tests he was proposing would take place, Mr. Trump then theorized about the possible medical benefits of disinfectants in the fight against the virus.\n\n“And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” he asked. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”\n\nExperts [have long warned](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20200327-can-you-kill-coronavirus-with-uv-light) that ultraviolet lamps can harm humans if used improperly — when the exposure is outside the body, much less inside. The link between ultraviolet light and skin cancer is well established. Bleach and other disinfectants may kill microbes but they also can kill humans if swallowed or if fumes are too powerful. That is why bottles of bleach and other disinfectants carry sharp warnings of ingestion dangers.\n\nMr. Trump’s comments prompted an explosion of warnings about the dangers of any improvised remedies. Emergency management officials in Washington State [posted a warning on Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/waEMD\/status\/1253473167017865216). “Please don’t eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant,” they wrote, before urging the public to rely only on official medical advice about Covid-19. “Just don’t make a bad situation worse.”\n\nThe maker of the disinfectants [Lysol and Dettol also issued a statement on Friday](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/us\/disinfectant-inject-trump-coronavirus.html) warning against the improper use of their products. “As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” the company said.\n\nBy Friday morning, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, issued a statement: “President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing. Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines.”\n\nIn the afternoon, Mr. Trump suggested that he was just kidding. “I was asking sarcastically to reporters just like you to see what would happen,” he told journalists as he signed the latest coronavirus relief bill into law.\n\nAt the Thursday briefing, Mr. Trump had assailed a reporter who expressed concern that people might “think they would be safe by going outside in the heat considering that so many people are dying in Florida.”\n\n> Please don't eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant.\n> \n> If you do need help with [\\#COVID19](https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) issues, we have lots of resources at <https:\/\/t.co\/C4x8jjWL0x>\n> \n> Just don't make a bad situation worse.\n> \n> — WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) [April 23, 2020](https:\/\/twitter.com\/waEMD\/status\/1253473167017865216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)\n\n“I hope people enjoy the sun, and if it has an impact, that’s great,” Mr. Trump said.\n\nMr. Trump then turned to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, and asked if she had heard of the success of sunlight as an effective tool against viruses, and more specifically the coronavirus.\n\n“Not as a treatment,” Dr. Birx replied. “I mean, certainly fever is a good thing when you have a fever. It helps your body respond. But not as — I have not seen heat or ….”\n\nMr. Trump cut short her answer.\n\n“I think that’s a great thing to look at,” he said. “I mean you know, OK?”\n\nOn Friday the White House also sent a corrected briefing transcript, which initially misrepresented Dr. Birx’s response. The Thursday transcript quoted Dr. Birx as saying, “That is a treatment”; the corrected version clarified that she indeed said, “Not as a treatment.”\n\nImage\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2020\/04\/24\/us\/24virus-us-briefing-transcript-copy\/24virus-us-briefing-transcript-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n\nA portion of the corrected transcript that the White House released on Friday.\n\nMr. Trump has long touted various ideas against the coronavirus despite a lack of scientific evidence, from sunlight and warmer temperatures to an array of drugs, including the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, [which he has promoted](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/17\/health\/trump-hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus.html) as a “what have you got to lose” remedy.\n\nBut some of his recommendations, however, have had disastrous effects. Last month, [an Arizona man died and his wife was hospitalized](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/03\/24\/us\/chloroquine-poisoning-coronavirus.html) after the couple ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine.\n\nAs the pandemic has spread to countries experiencing hot weather, including Australia and Iran, some groups have investigated whether the warmer summer season would slow the virus. Early this month, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences [looked exclusively](https:\/\/www.nap.edu\/read\/25771\/chapter\/1) at humidity and temperature and found that they would have a minimal impact on the virus.\n\nAt the Thursday briefing, Mr. Bryan said that the novel coronavirus dies rapidly when exposed to sunlight, high temperatures and humidity. He cited experiments the agency had conducted at a high-security laboratory in Frederick, Md.\n\n“Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus — both surfaces and in the air,” Mr. Bryan said. “We’ve seen a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well, where increasing the temperature and humidity, or both, is generally less favorable to the virus.”\n\nThe sunlight finding was no surprise to life scientists who, for many decades, have reported that ultraviolet light — an invisible but energetic part of the sun’s electromagnetic spectrum — can damage DNA, kill viruses and turn human skin cells from healthy to cancerous.\n\nFor public health, the big challenge is widening such narrow laboratory findings so they take into account how the global environment and its changing weather and endless nuances can impact the overall result — most especially on the question of whether the virus that causes Covid-19 will diminish in the summer. This week, a pair of ecological modelers at the University of Connecticut [reported evidence](https:\/\/www.medrxiv.org\/content\/10.1101\/2020.04.19.20071951v1) that balmy weather [may indeed slow](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/coronavirus-summer-ultraviolet-light.html) the coronavirus, but not enough to do away with the social-distancing measures advised by public health officials.\n\nThe inherent limitations of lab studies were driven home on April 7 in a letter to the White House from a National Academy of Sciences panel looking into research on the coronavirus. “With experimental studies,” [the panel said](https:\/\/www.nap.edu\/read\/25771\/chapter\/1), “environmental conditions can be controlled, but almost always the conditions fail to adequately mimic those of the natural setting.”\n\nKatie Rogers contributed reporting.\n\n**A correction was made on**\n\nApril 24, 2020\n\n:\n\nAn earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to William N. Bryan. He is a science administrator in the federal government, not a scientist. It also misstated the substance consumed by a man and his wife in Arizona. They ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine, not a chemical found in the related compound hydroxychloroquine.\n\n[William J. Broad](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/by\/william-j-broad) is a science journalist and senior writer. He joined The Times in 1983, and has shared two Pulitzer Prizes with his colleagues, as well as an Emmy Award and a DuPont Award.\n\n[Dan Levin](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/by\/dan-levin) covers American youth for the National Desk. He was a foreign correspondent covering Canada from 2016 until 2018. From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Levin was based in Beijing, where he reported on human rights, politics and culture in China and Asia.\n\nA version of this article appears in print on April 24, 2020, Section A, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Says Look to Light. Experts Urge Caution.. [Order Reprints](https:\/\/nytimes.wrightsmedia.com\/) \\| [Today’s Paper](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/todayspaper) \\| [Subscribe](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscriptions\/Multiproduct\/lp8HYKU.html?campaignId=48JQY)\n\n## Related Content\n[The Covid-19 Pandemic](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/news-event\/coronavirus)\n\n- ![A family physician testing patients for the Covid-19 virus at a clinic in Oregon in May 2020.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/10\/multimedia\/00HS-SCI-SPILLOVER-bpfv\/00HS-SCI-SPILLOVER-bpfv-thumbLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Ruth Fremson\/The New York Times\n- ![Derrick Wynne was discharged from the Army for refusing a Covid shot. “He was using our movement to gain a huge amount of traction,” he said of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2025\/12\/05\/multimedia\/00hs-antivax-pqbj\/00hs-antivax-pqbj-thumbLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Callaghan O'Hare for The New York Times\n- Eric Lee\/The New York Times\n\n[More in Health](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/health)\n\n- ![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/03\/science\/03sci-SPAN-financial-predators\/03sci-SPAN-financial-predators-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Federica Bordoni\n- ![Beate Uhse in 1971, in front of her mail-order company headquarters in Flensburg, Germany.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/06\/obituaries\/06whm-uhse-obit\/06whm-uhse-obit-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Hesslefors\/ullstein bild, via Getty Images\n- ![Leeann Mata says that Housing Works has not delivered on the agreement to help develop her cannabis dispensary, Matawana.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/02\/20\/multimedia\/00met-cannabis-housingworks-gzwj\/00met-cannabis-housingworks-gzwj-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Kent J. Edwards for The New York Times\n- ![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/04\/multimedia\/04HS-weight-loss-zgtw\/04HS-weight-loss-zgtw-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Kristian Thacker for The New York Times\n\nEditors’ Picks\n\n- ![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/14\/magazine\/14mag-ethicist\/14mag-ethicist-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Illustration by Tomi Um\n- ![Andris Nelsons leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra last summer at Tanglewood. It was announced on Friday that he would leave his post there next season.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/09\/multimedia\/07cul-orchestra-notebook-bhcp\/07cul-orchestra-notebook-bhcp-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)\n  \n  Hilary Scott, via Boston Symphony Orchestra\n\nTrending in The Times\n\n- ![A big rise in oil prices has set off another global sell-off in stocks and bonds.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/09\/multimedia\/09db-crude-jfzc\/09db-crude-jfzc-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Essam Al-Sudani\/Reuters\n- ![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/09\/well\/09WELL-HEALTHY-CABBAGE1\/09WELL-HEALTHY-CABBAGE1-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Suzanne Saroff\n- ![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/03\/travel\/00trav-rivercruise-illo-sub\/00trav-rivercruise-illo-sub-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Philip Lindeman\n- ![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/10\/multimedia\/08french-mzkt\/08french-mzkt-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times\n- ![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/08\/style\/00MINI-HYLAND-THALMAN\/00MINI-HYLAND-THALMAN-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Aislinn Rose Photography\n- ![More than 60 firefighters battled the blaze after it began at a shop near Glasgow’s main train station on Sunday.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/08\/multimedia\/08xp-fire-kwlz\/08xp-fire-kwlz-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Jeff J Mitchell\/Getty Images\n- ![Jennifer Lawrence at the Golden Globes in a Givenchy gown strategically embroidered with flowers.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/05\/multimedia\/05openthread-askvanessa-wkpq\/05openthread-askvanessa-wkpq-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Frederic J. Brown\/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images\n- ![An injured Iranian sailor is moved on a stretcher at Galle National Hospital in Sri Lanka after the torpedoing of the Iranian naval ship IRIS Dena on Thursday.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/06\/multimedia\/05iran-live-oz-sailors-vqmw\/05iran-live-oz-sailors-vqmw-square640-v2.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Thilina Kaluthotage\/Reuters\n- ![The Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Synagogue was damaged by gunfire late on Friday night, according to the mayor of Vaughan, a suburb of Toronto.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/07\/world\/07xp-syanagogue-toronto-01\/07xp-syanagogue-toronto-01-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Mert Alper Dervis\/Anadolu, via Getty Images\n- ![An aerial view of the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, Australia, taken in 1996, the first year the Australian Grand Prix was held there. A lake is in the center of the park.](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2026\/03\/07\/multimedia\/07sp-australian-melbourne-inyt\/07sp-australian-melbourne-inyt-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350)\n  \n  Sutton Images\/Getty Images\n\nAdvertisement\n\n[SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/24\/health\/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-bottom)","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	Trump Muses About Light as Remedy, but Also Disinfectant, Which Is Dangerous - The New York Times
Meta Description	At a briefing, the president promoted unproven treatments and asked Dr. Deborah Birx if she had heard of the success of sunlight as a tool against viruses.
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Boilerpipe Text	Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT At a briefing, the president promoted unproven treatments and asked Dr. Deborah Birx if she had heard of the success of sunlight as a tool against viruses. Video At the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, President Trump pushed dangerous and unproven theories about treatments involving household disinfectant and ultraviolet light. Credit Credit... Al Drago for The New York Times April 24, 2020 President Trump has long pinned his hopes on the powers of sunlight to defeat the Covid-19 virus. He returned to that theme at the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, bringing in a science administrator to back up his assertions and eagerly theorizing about treatments involving the use of household disinfectant that would be dangerous if put inside the body, as well as the power of sunlight and ultraviolet light. After the administrator, William N. Bryan , the head of science at the Department of Homeland Security, told the briefing that the agency had tested how sunlight and disinfectants — including bleach and alcohol — can kill the coronavirus on surfaces in as little as 30 seconds, an excited Mr. Trump returned to the lectern. “Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light,” Mr. Trump said. “And I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but we’re going to test it?” he added, turning to Mr. Bryan, who had returned to his seat. “And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, either through the skin or some other way.” Apparently reassured that the tests he was proposing would take place, Mr. Trump then theorized about the possible medical benefits of disinfectants in the fight against the virus. “And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” he asked. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.” Experts have long warned that ultraviolet lamps can harm humans if used improperly — when the exposure is outside the body, much less inside. The link between ultraviolet light and skin cancer is well established. Bleach and other disinfectants may kill microbes but they also can kill humans if swallowed or if fumes are too powerful. That is why bottles of bleach and other disinfectants carry sharp warnings of ingestion dangers. Mr. Trump’s comments prompted an explosion of warnings about the dangers of any improvised remedies. Emergency management officials in Washington State posted a warning on Twitter . “Please don’t eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant,” they wrote, before urging the public to rely only on official medical advice about Covid-19. “Just don’t make a bad situation worse.” The maker of the disinfectants Lysol and Dettol also issued a statement on Friday warning against the improper use of their products. “As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” the company said. By Friday morning, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, issued a statement: “President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing. Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines.” In the afternoon, Mr. Trump suggested that he was just kidding. “I was asking sarcastically to reporters just like you to see what would happen,” he told journalists as he signed the latest coronavirus relief bill into law. At the Thursday briefing, Mr. Trump had assailed a reporter who expressed concern that people might “think they would be safe by going outside in the heat considering that so many people are dying in Florida.” Please don't eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant. If you do need help with #COVID19 issues, we have lots of resources at https://t.co/C4x8jjWL0x Just don't make a bad situation worse. — WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) April 23, 2020 “I hope people enjoy the sun, and if it has an impact, that’s great,” Mr. Trump said. Mr. Trump then turned to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, and asked if she had heard of the success of sunlight as an effective tool against viruses, and more specifically the coronavirus. “Not as a treatment,” Dr. Birx replied. “I mean, certainly fever is a good thing when you have a fever. It helps your body respond. But not as — I have not seen heat or ….” Mr. Trump cut short her answer. “I think that’s a great thing to look at,” he said. “I mean you know, OK?” On Friday the White House also sent a corrected briefing transcript, which initially misrepresented Dr. Birx’s response. The Thursday transcript quoted Dr. Birx as saying, “That is a treatment”; the corrected version clarified that she indeed said, “Not as a treatment.” Image A portion of the corrected transcript that the White House released on Friday. Mr. Trump has long touted various ideas against the coronavirus despite a lack of scientific evidence, from sunlight and warmer temperatures to an array of drugs, including the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which he has promoted as a “what have you got to lose” remedy. But some of his recommendations, however, have had disastrous effects. Last month, an Arizona man died and his wife was hospitalized after the couple ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine. As the pandemic has spread to countries experiencing hot weather, including Australia and Iran, some groups have investigated whether the warmer summer season would slow the virus. Early this month, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences looked exclusively at humidity and temperature and found that they would have a minimal impact on the virus. At the Thursday briefing, Mr. Bryan said that the novel coronavirus dies rapidly when exposed to sunlight, high temperatures and humidity. He cited experiments the agency had conducted at a high-security laboratory in Frederick, Md. “Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus — both surfaces and in the air,” Mr. Bryan said. “We’ve seen a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well, where increasing the temperature and humidity, or both, is generally less favorable to the virus.” The sunlight finding was no surprise to life scientists who, for many decades, have reported that ultraviolet light — an invisible but energetic part of the sun’s electromagnetic spectrum — can damage DNA, kill viruses and turn human skin cells from healthy to cancerous. For public health, the big challenge is widening such narrow laboratory findings so they take into account how the global environment and its changing weather and endless nuances can impact the overall result — most especially on the question of whether the virus that causes Covid-19 will diminish in the summer. This week, a pair of ecological modelers at the University of Connecticut reported evidence that balmy weather may indeed slow the coronavirus, but not enough to do away with the social-distancing measures advised by public health officials. The inherent limitations of lab studies were driven home on April 7 in a letter to the White House from a National Academy of Sciences panel looking into research on the coronavirus. “With experimental studies,” the panel said , “environmental conditions can be controlled, but almost always the conditions fail to adequately mimic those of the natural setting.” Katie Rogers contributed reporting. A correction was made on April 24, 2020 : An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to William N. Bryan. He is a science administrator in the federal government, not a scientist. It also misstated the substance consumed by a man and his wife in Arizona. They ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine, not a chemical found in the related compound hydroxychloroquine. William J. Broad is a science journalist and senior writer. He joined The Times in 1983, and has shared two Pulitzer Prizes with his colleagues, as well as an Emmy Award and a DuPont Award. Dan Levin covers American youth for the National Desk. He was a foreign correspondent covering Canada from 2016 until 2018. From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Levin was based in Beijing, where he reported on human rights, politics and culture in China and Asia. A version of this article appears in print on April 24, 2020 , Section A, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Says Look to Light. Experts Urge Caution. . Order Reprints \| Today’s Paper \| Subscribe Related Content The Covid-19 Pandemic Ruth Fremson/The New York Times Callaghan O'Hare for The New York Times Eric Lee/The New York Times More in Health Federica Bordoni Hesslefors/ullstein bild, via Getty Images Kent J. Edwards for The New York Times Kristian Thacker for The New York Times Editors’ Picks Illustration by Tomi Um Hilary Scott, via Boston Symphony Orchestra Trending in The Times Essam Al-Sudani/Reuters Suzanne Saroff Philip Lindeman Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times Aislinn Rose Photography Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Frederic J. Brown/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu, via Getty Images Sutton Images/Getty Images Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Markdown	[Skip to content](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#site-content)[Skip to site index](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#site-index) Search & Section Navigation Section Navigation Search [Health](https://www.nytimes.com/section/health) [Log in](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Fsubscription%2Fonboarding-offer%3FcampaignId%3D7JFJX%26EXIT_URI%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.nytimes.com%252F2020%252F04%252F24%252Fhealth%252Fsunlight-coronavirus-trump.html&asset=masthead) Monday, March 9, 2026 [Today’s Paper](https://www.nytimes.com/section/todayspaper) [Health](https://www.nytimes.com/section/health)\\|Trump Muses About Light as Remedy, but Also Disinfectant, Which Is Dangerous https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html - Share full article - 2\.9k Advertisement [SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-top) Supported by [SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-sponsor) # Trump Muses About Light as Remedy, but Also Disinfectant, Which Is Dangerous At a briefing, the president promoted unproven treatments and asked Dr. Deborah Birx if she had heard of the success of sunlight as a tool against viruses. - Share full article - 2\.9k Video At the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, President Trump pushed dangerous and unproven theories about treatments involving household disinfectant and ultraviolet light.CreditCredit...Al Drago for The New York Times By [William J. Broad](https://www.nytimes.com/by/william-j-broad) and [Dan Levin](https://www.nytimes.com/by/dan-levin) April 24, 2020 President Trump has long pinned his hopes on the powers of sunlight to defeat the Covid-19 virus. He returned to that theme at the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, bringing in a science administrator to back up his assertions and eagerly theorizing about treatments involving the use of household disinfectant that would be dangerous if put inside the body, as well as the power of sunlight and ultraviolet light. After the administrator, [William N. Bryan](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/10/us/politics/william-bryan-homeland-security.html), the head of science at the Department of Homeland Security, told the briefing that the agency had tested how sunlight and disinfectants — [including bleach and alcohol](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/us/disinfectant-inject-trump-coronavirus.html) — can kill the coronavirus on surfaces in as little as 30 seconds, an excited Mr. Trump returned to the lectern. “Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light,” Mr. Trump said. “And I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but we’re going to test it?” he added, turning to Mr. Bryan, who had returned to his seat. “And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, either through the skin or some other way.” Apparently reassured that the tests he was proposing would take place, Mr. Trump then theorized about the possible medical benefits of disinfectants in the fight against the virus. “And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” he asked. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.” Experts [have long warned](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200327-can-you-kill-coronavirus-with-uv-light) that ultraviolet lamps can harm humans if used improperly — when the exposure is outside the body, much less inside. The link between ultraviolet light and skin cancer is well established. Bleach and other disinfectants may kill microbes but they also can kill humans if swallowed or if fumes are too powerful. That is why bottles of bleach and other disinfectants carry sharp warnings of ingestion dangers. Mr. Trump’s comments prompted an explosion of warnings about the dangers of any improvised remedies. Emergency management officials in Washington State [posted a warning on Twitter](https://twitter.com/waEMD/status/1253473167017865216). “Please don’t eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant,” they wrote, before urging the public to rely only on official medical advice about Covid-19. “Just don’t make a bad situation worse.” The maker of the disinfectants [Lysol and Dettol also issued a statement on Friday](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/us/disinfectant-inject-trump-coronavirus.html) warning against the improper use of their products. “As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” the company said. By Friday morning, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, issued a statement: “President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing. Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines.” ## Editors’ Picks [![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/05/t-magazine/05tmag-milana-slide-NEYR-copy/05tmag-milana-slide-NEYR-copy-thumbLarge.jpg)In Milan, an Endlessly Adaptable Family Home](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/t-magazine/mario-milana-home-milan-design.html) [![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/07/multimedia/07cul-watergate-museum-02-lbvh/07cul-watergate-museum-02-lbvh-thumbLarge.jpg)A Washington Museum Zeros In on Presidential Scandal. From 50 Years Ago.](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/arts/design/dc-watergate-museum-pop-up.html) [![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/07/crosswords/07gameplay-special-art/07gameplay-special-art-thumbLarge.jpg)Celebrate the 1,000th Connections Puzzle](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/crosswords/connections-1000.html) Advertisement [SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-pp_edpick) In the afternoon, Mr. Trump suggested that he was just kidding. “I was asking sarcastically to reporters just like you to see what would happen,” he told journalists as he signed the latest coronavirus relief bill into law. At the Thursday briefing, Mr. Trump had assailed a reporter who expressed concern that people might “think they would be safe by going outside in the heat considering that so many people are dying in Florida.” > Please don't eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant. > > If you do need help with [\#COVID19](https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) issues, we have lots of resources at <https://t.co/C4x8jjWL0x> > > Just don't make a bad situation worse. > > — WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) [April 23, 2020](https://twitter.com/waEMD/status/1253473167017865216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) “I hope people enjoy the sun, and if it has an impact, that’s great,” Mr. Trump said. Mr. Trump then turned to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, and asked if she had heard of the success of sunlight as an effective tool against viruses, and more specifically the coronavirus. “Not as a treatment,” Dr. Birx replied. “I mean, certainly fever is a good thing when you have a fever. It helps your body respond. But not as — I have not seen heat or ….” Mr. Trump cut short her answer. “I think that’s a great thing to look at,” he said. “I mean you know, OK?” On Friday the White House also sent a corrected briefing transcript, which initially misrepresented Dr. Birx’s response. The Thursday transcript quoted Dr. Birx as saying, “That is a treatment”; the corrected version clarified that she indeed said, “Not as a treatment.” Image ![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/04/24/us/24virus-us-briefing-transcript-copy/24virus-us-briefing-transcript-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale) A portion of the corrected transcript that the White House released on Friday. Mr. Trump has long touted various ideas against the coronavirus despite a lack of scientific evidence, from sunlight and warmer temperatures to an array of drugs, including the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, [which he has promoted](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/health/trump-hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus.html) as a “what have you got to lose” remedy. But some of his recommendations, however, have had disastrous effects. Last month, [an Arizona man died and his wife was hospitalized](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/us/chloroquine-poisoning-coronavirus.html) after the couple ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine. As the pandemic has spread to countries experiencing hot weather, including Australia and Iran, some groups have investigated whether the warmer summer season would slow the virus. Early this month, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences [looked exclusively](https://www.nap.edu/read/25771/chapter/1) at humidity and temperature and found that they would have a minimal impact on the virus. At the Thursday briefing, Mr. Bryan said that the novel coronavirus dies rapidly when exposed to sunlight, high temperatures and humidity. He cited experiments the agency had conducted at a high-security laboratory in Frederick, Md. “Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus — both surfaces and in the air,” Mr. Bryan said. “We’ve seen a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well, where increasing the temperature and humidity, or both, is generally less favorable to the virus.” The sunlight finding was no surprise to life scientists who, for many decades, have reported that ultraviolet light — an invisible but energetic part of the sun’s electromagnetic spectrum — can damage DNA, kill viruses and turn human skin cells from healthy to cancerous. For public health, the big challenge is widening such narrow laboratory findings so they take into account how the global environment and its changing weather and endless nuances can impact the overall result — most especially on the question of whether the virus that causes Covid-19 will diminish in the summer. This week, a pair of ecological modelers at the University of Connecticut [reported evidence](https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.19.20071951v1) that balmy weather [may indeed slow](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/coronavirus-summer-ultraviolet-light.html) the coronavirus, but not enough to do away with the social-distancing measures advised by public health officials. Warm Weather and the Coronavirus [![]()Please Do Not Eat Disinfectant](https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-disinfectant-inject-ingest.html) [![]()Trump’s Suggestion That Disinfectants Could Be Used to Treat Coronavirus Prompts Aggressive Pushback April 24, 2020](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/us/politics/trump-inject-disinfectant-bleach-coronavirus.html) [![]()Could the Power of the Sun Slow the Coronavirus? April 24, 2020](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/coronavirus-summer-ultraviolet-light.html) [![]()Summer Heat May Not Diminish Coronavirus Strength April 8, 2020](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/health/coronavirus-summer-weather.html) [![]()Warmer Weather May Slow, but Not Halt, Coronavirus March 22, 2020](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/22/health/warm-weather-coronavirus.html) The inherent limitations of lab studies were driven home on April 7 in a letter to the White House from a National Academy of Sciences panel looking into research on the coronavirus. “With experimental studies,” [the panel said](https://www.nap.edu/read/25771/chapter/1), “environmental conditions can be controlled, but almost always the conditions fail to adequately mimic those of the natural setting.” Katie Rogers contributed reporting. A correction was made on April 24, 2020 : An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to William N. Bryan. He is a science administrator in the federal government, not a scientist. It also misstated the substance consumed by a man and his wife in Arizona. They ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine, not a chemical found in the related compound hydroxychloroquine. * When we learn of a mistake, we acknowledge it with a correction. If you spot an error, please let us know at [corrections@nytimes.com](mailto:corrections@nytimes.com).[Learn more](https://www.nytimes.com/explain/2022/new-york-times-journalism) [William J. Broad](https://www.nytimes.com/by/william-j-broad) is a science journalist and senior writer. He joined The Times in 1983, and has shared two Pulitzer Prizes with his colleagues, as well as an Emmy Award and a DuPont Award. [Dan Levin](https://www.nytimes.com/by/dan-levin) covers American youth for the National Desk. He was a foreign correspondent covering Canada from 2016 until 2018. From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Levin was based in Beijing, where he reported on human rights, politics and culture in China and Asia. A version of this article appears in print on April 24, 2020, Section A, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Says Look to Light. Experts Urge Caution.. [Order Reprints](https://nytimes.wrightsmedia.com/) \\| [Today’s Paper](https://www.nytimes.com/section/todayspaper) \\| [Subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscriptions/Multiproduct/lp8HYKU.html?campaignId=48JQY) See more on: [Donald Trump](https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/donald-trump), [Homeland Security Department](https://www.nytimes.com/topic/organization/homeland-security-department) Read 2,854 comments - Share full article - 2\.9k * ## Discover More in Health and Science * - St Elmo’s Fire: A new study suggests that the phenomenon, which causes a violet glow during thunderstorms, [may be pretty common if you know how to look for it](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/science/trees-glowing-st-elmos-fire.html). - Neanderthals’ Sex Lives: In a study published in the journal Science, a team of researchers report that men with a lot of Neanderthal ancestry and women with a lot of modern human ancestry [had a strong preference to mate with each other](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/science/human-evolution-neanderthal-sex.html). - How a T. Rex Ran**: An analysis in the journal Royal Society Open Science reveals that the top of the dinosaur food [chain walked on tippy toes](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/science/tyrannosaurus-rex-tiptoes-dinosaurs.html), not unlike modern birds. - Northern Lights in Norway: The nation’s northern region [has led the scientific quest to understand the aurora borealis](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/science/norway-auroras-northern-lights-observatory.html). 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Readable Markdown	Advertisement [SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-top) At a briefing, the president promoted unproven treatments and asked Dr. Deborah Birx if she had heard of the success of sunlight as a tool against viruses. Video At the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, President Trump pushed dangerous and unproven theories about treatments involving household disinfectant and ultraviolet light.CreditCredit...Al Drago for The New York Times April 24, 2020 President Trump has long pinned his hopes on the powers of sunlight to defeat the Covid-19 virus. He returned to that theme at the White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, bringing in a science administrator to back up his assertions and eagerly theorizing about treatments involving the use of household disinfectant that would be dangerous if put inside the body, as well as the power of sunlight and ultraviolet light. After the administrator, [William N. Bryan](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/10/us/politics/william-bryan-homeland-security.html), the head of science at the Department of Homeland Security, told the briefing that the agency had tested how sunlight and disinfectants — [including bleach and alcohol](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/us/disinfectant-inject-trump-coronavirus.html) — can kill the coronavirus on surfaces in as little as 30 seconds, an excited Mr. Trump returned to the lectern. “Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light,” Mr. Trump said. “And I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but we’re going to test it?” he added, turning to Mr. Bryan, who had returned to his seat. “And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, either through the skin or some other way.” Apparently reassured that the tests he was proposing would take place, Mr. Trump then theorized about the possible medical benefits of disinfectants in the fight against the virus. “And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” he asked. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.” Experts [have long warned](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200327-can-you-kill-coronavirus-with-uv-light) that ultraviolet lamps can harm humans if used improperly — when the exposure is outside the body, much less inside. The link between ultraviolet light and skin cancer is well established. Bleach and other disinfectants may kill microbes but they also can kill humans if swallowed or if fumes are too powerful. That is why bottles of bleach and other disinfectants carry sharp warnings of ingestion dangers. Mr. Trump’s comments prompted an explosion of warnings about the dangers of any improvised remedies. Emergency management officials in Washington State [posted a warning on Twitter](https://twitter.com/waEMD/status/1253473167017865216). “Please don’t eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant,” they wrote, before urging the public to rely only on official medical advice about Covid-19. “Just don’t make a bad situation worse.” The maker of the disinfectants [Lysol and Dettol also issued a statement on Friday](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/us/disinfectant-inject-trump-coronavirus.html) warning against the improper use of their products. “As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” the company said. By Friday morning, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, issued a statement: “President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing. Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines.” In the afternoon, Mr. Trump suggested that he was just kidding. “I was asking sarcastically to reporters just like you to see what would happen,” he told journalists as he signed the latest coronavirus relief bill into law. At the Thursday briefing, Mr. Trump had assailed a reporter who expressed concern that people might “think they would be safe by going outside in the heat considering that so many people are dying in Florida.” > Please don't eat tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant. > > If you do need help with [\#COVID19](https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) issues, we have lots of resources at <https://t.co/C4x8jjWL0x> > > Just don't make a bad situation worse. > > — WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) [April 23, 2020](https://twitter.com/waEMD/status/1253473167017865216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) “I hope people enjoy the sun, and if it has an impact, that’s great,” Mr. Trump said. Mr. Trump then turned to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, and asked if she had heard of the success of sunlight as an effective tool against viruses, and more specifically the coronavirus. “Not as a treatment,” Dr. Birx replied. “I mean, certainly fever is a good thing when you have a fever. It helps your body respond. But not as — I have not seen heat or ….” Mr. Trump cut short her answer. “I think that’s a great thing to look at,” he said. “I mean you know, OK?” On Friday the White House also sent a corrected briefing transcript, which initially misrepresented Dr. Birx’s response. The Thursday transcript quoted Dr. Birx as saying, “That is a treatment”; the corrected version clarified that she indeed said, “Not as a treatment.” Image ![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/04/24/us/24virus-us-briefing-transcript-copy/24virus-us-briefing-transcript-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale) A portion of the corrected transcript that the White House released on Friday. Mr. Trump has long touted various ideas against the coronavirus despite a lack of scientific evidence, from sunlight and warmer temperatures to an array of drugs, including the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, [which he has promoted](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/health/trump-hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus.html) as a “what have you got to lose” remedy. But some of his recommendations, however, have had disastrous effects. Last month, [an Arizona man died and his wife was hospitalized](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/us/chloroquine-poisoning-coronavirus.html) after the couple ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine. As the pandemic has spread to countries experiencing hot weather, including Australia and Iran, some groups have investigated whether the warmer summer season would slow the virus. Early this month, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences [looked exclusively](https://www.nap.edu/read/25771/chapter/1) at humidity and temperature and found that they would have a minimal impact on the virus. At the Thursday briefing, Mr. Bryan said that the novel coronavirus dies rapidly when exposed to sunlight, high temperatures and humidity. He cited experiments the agency had conducted at a high-security laboratory in Frederick, Md. “Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus — both surfaces and in the air,” Mr. Bryan said. “We’ve seen a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well, where increasing the temperature and humidity, or both, is generally less favorable to the virus.” The sunlight finding was no surprise to life scientists who, for many decades, have reported that ultraviolet light — an invisible but energetic part of the sun’s electromagnetic spectrum — can damage DNA, kill viruses and turn human skin cells from healthy to cancerous. For public health, the big challenge is widening such narrow laboratory findings so they take into account how the global environment and its changing weather and endless nuances can impact the overall result — most especially on the question of whether the virus that causes Covid-19 will diminish in the summer. This week, a pair of ecological modelers at the University of Connecticut [reported evidence](https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.19.20071951v1) that balmy weather [may indeed slow](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/coronavirus-summer-ultraviolet-light.html) the coronavirus, but not enough to do away with the social-distancing measures advised by public health officials. The inherent limitations of lab studies were driven home on April 7 in a letter to the White House from a National Academy of Sciences panel looking into research on the coronavirus. “With experimental studies,” [the panel said](https://www.nap.edu/read/25771/chapter/1), “environmental conditions can be controlled, but almost always the conditions fail to adequately mimic those of the natural setting.” Katie Rogers contributed reporting. A correction was made on April 24, 2020 : An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to William N. Bryan. He is a science administrator in the federal government, not a scientist. It also misstated the substance consumed by a man and his wife in Arizona. They ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine, not a chemical found in the related compound hydroxychloroquine. [William J. Broad](https://www.nytimes.com/by/william-j-broad) is a science journalist and senior writer. He joined The Times in 1983, and has shared two Pulitzer Prizes with his colleagues, as well as an Emmy Award and a DuPont Award. [Dan Levin](https://www.nytimes.com/by/dan-levin) covers American youth for the National Desk. He was a foreign correspondent covering Canada from 2016 until 2018. From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Levin was based in Beijing, where he reported on human rights, politics and culture in China and Asia. A version of this article appears in print on April 24, 2020, Section A, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Says Look to Light. Experts Urge Caution.. 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A lake is in the center of the park.](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/03/07/multimedia/07sp-australian-melbourne-inyt/07sp-australian-melbourne-inyt-square640.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=350) Sutton Images/Getty Images Advertisement [SKIP ADVERTISEMENT](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/health/sunlight-coronavirus-trump.html#after-bottom)
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