Ministry claims 'antivirus necklace' prevents COVID-19, experts beg to differ

Berry Juliandi from the Bogor Agricultural University Department of Biology called the ministry’s claims dangerous.

Tri Indah Oktavianti and Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post)

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Mon, July 6, 2020 Published on Jul. 5, 2020 Published on 2020-07-05T19:51:58+07:00

Illustration of eucalyptus and eucalyptus oil

The Agriculture Ministry plans to release a eucalyptus-based “antivirus necklace” that minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo claims can help prevent COVID-19 transmission.

The “antivirus necklace” was “invented” by the ministry’s Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangtan) and will be mass-produced next month, he said. It is one of four products developed by the ministry’s researchers intended to treat or prevent COVID-19.

“It was [developed] by Balitbangtan. From 700 species of eucalyptus, our lab test results showed that one kind could kill the coronavirus. We are certain,” Syahrul said on Friday as reported by tribunnews.com.

The former South Sulawesi governor boasted that the product could “kill” 42 percent of the coronavirus if worn for 15 minutes.

“We have tried it. If we [use it] for 30 minutes, it can kill 80 percent [of the coronavirus]. We have also produced a roll-on [product]. If we ever get cut by a knife, the wounds can be healed by applying the product,” Syahrul claimed.

He also claimed that the product gave him the confidence to visit crowded places. He said he had used it several times during work visits to inspect agriculture production.

Separately, Balitbangtan head Fadjry Djufry said prototypes of eucalyptus-based inventions had been used by COVID-19 patients. He claimed the results showed high rates of recovery following treatment with the products.