A crew member walks past American Airlines planes parked at the gate during the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, USA, April 5, 2020.
Joshua Roberts | Reuters
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce on Monday that it will issue a waiver to the state of Texas, which will allow American Airlines to use a new surface coating that kills coronaviruses for up to seven days, sources say.
EPA officials said the agency would approve the emergency exemption request under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for the use of SurfaceWise2 – a product manufactured by Allied BioScience – by both American Airlines and Texas-based Total Orthopedics Sports & Spine’s to allow two clinics up to one year.
American Airlines declined to comment.
The announcement comes as airlines are struggling to convince people that it is safe to continue flying. EPA officials said the product was aimed at adding protection in public spaces that could increase consumer confidence when resuming air travel.
EPA officials said the surface coating invaded viruses and bacteria within two hours of application and continued to work until up to seven days.
The EPA will allow the use of the product at American Airlines airport facilities in Texas and on aircraft with flights originating in the state, officials said, without giving further details. The initial application and each re-application must take place in Texas.
Allied BioScience aims to follow a non-emergency approval by submitting additional data to meet the EPA’s registration requirements as an antiviral surface coating. If approved, the product would be for sale by the public, EPA officials said.
EPA officials insisted the product was not a substitute for routine cleaning and disinfection. Facilities should continue to receive regular cleanings.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said it is possible for a person to get Covid-19 “by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.” ” But the virus is thought to be spread primarily through close contact.
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