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Coronavirus pandemic
Democracy Dies in Darkness

A GOP senator suggested gargling mouthwash to kill the coronavirus. Doctors and Listerine are skeptical.

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December 9, 2021 at 4:09 a.m. EST
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said, “Standard gargle, mouthwash, has been proven to kill the coronavirus,” which experts say is an oversimplification of the evidence found in studies. (Alex Brandon/Pool/AP)

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) recommended mouthwash as a treatment for the coronavirus during a town hall meeting Wednesday, immediately drawing criticism for suggesting gargling would offer protection.

The senator has been criticized for spreading conspiracy theories about the coronavirus and has promoted the use of drugs that have shown little to no evidence that they are effective in treating covid-19. YouTube this year suspended his account for violating the company’s medical misinformation policies. He has also expressed skepticism about the efficacy of coronavirus vaccine mandates and doses, which have undergone vigorous health testing.