By Anne Ready
LOS ANGELES – Listening to the media is often as important as speaking to it.
When president, Donald Trump refused to protect himself and those around him with a mask. And he announced that he himself is taking a malaria drug to prevent Covid-19. That’s “highly irresponsible,” commented Fox News’ Dr. Manny Alvarez.
This, after a press briefing to reporters and TV viewers in which the president suggested that injecting disinfectants into the body might kill COVID-19 and “clean” the lungs (which would also kill the patient.) Popular disinfectant brands listened and spoke up, too.
“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, RB (the makers of Lysol and Dettol) must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body. Through injection, ingestion or any other route.”
A Clorox spokesperson said in a statement, “Bleach and other disinfectants are not suitable for consumption or injection under any circumstances.
And speaking of spokespeople. A contributor to the Wall Street Journal requested a public spokesperson for now-cooperating pharmaceutical companies. 
Courtesy of David Klein & Wall Street Journal
American physicist, Safi Bahcall wrote, “Public communication is crucial. The absence of a calm, voice answering basic questions about the science of the fight against the novel coronavirus has created a void. Rapidly filled by rumors and speculation. Anthony Fauci is quickly rising to national-icon status. But he has a day job. And as a federal employee is limited in what he can say about clinical trials sponsored by private companies.
“Tired of waiting for the vacuum of national scientific leadership to be filled. And impatient with the glacial pace of federal research labs. Nearly all the major players in drug discovery and development have taken matters into their own hands. The goal of their insider-only collaboration—called “Covid R&D”—is to accelerate creation of a vaccine or cure.”
Covid R&D
“An industry-wide conference call demonstrated how the biopharma industry is working together as ‘one team,’ ” said Pfizer’s chief scientific officer Mikael Dolsten.
Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, Genentech chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development, said in a statement. “In these unprecedented times, today’s announcement is an important example of how industry and regulators can collaborate quickly to address the COVID-19 pandemic. And we will share the results as soon as possible.”
Dr. Bahcall concluded. “If anything, the daily White House briefings have undermined public confidence that an effective vaccine or therapy is within reach. When bad science screams and good science stays quiet, we all lose.
“With greater speed, transparency and willingness to elevate common goals above company needs, the leaders of the Covid R&D consortium can show the world how to win this war.”
And they did.