The authorities recommend not disinfecting public roads in the face of the coronavirus epidemic, as some municipalities had expressed the intention, considering that there is no evidence of the effectiveness of such a measure. The Ministers of the Ecological Transition, Elisabeth Borne, and of the Cohesion of the territories, Jacqueline Gourault, indicated Thursday "to take note" of a recommendation of the High Council of public health, which had been seized on the advisability of such measures .
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The HCSP issued its opinion on April 4, concluding that "there is no scientific argument for the effectiveness of such a measure in preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2". Consequently, while “noting its psychological impact on the population, it recommends not to implement a specific cleaning or disinfection policy for the roads” , but “to continue to provide the usual cleaning” , obviously “with the usual protective equipment for professionals ” .
More regular cleaning of street furniture
On the other hand, he recommends "ensuring the cleaning and disinfection at a more regular frequency of street furniture" and to refrain from using equipment that can raise dust on the ground, such as leaf blowers.
In a press release, the ministers also stressed that "the massive use of disinfection products in the open air can lead to effects, direct or indirect, on health and the environment," in particular due to runoff.
Several communities, Bordeaux or Nice in particular, had for a time considered such measures.