Health Highlights: July 8, 2020

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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

U.S. Launches Suicide Prevention Campaign

A national campaign to prevent suicide has been launched by the U.S. government.

The REACH campaign urges people to reach out to others, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, and to acknowledge daily stress in people’s lives, the Associated Press reported.

It’s the main component of a $53 million, two-year program to reduce high suicide rates, particularly among veterans.

On Wednesday, the campaign will introduce internet ads emphasizing that suicide is preventable, and that collective action can eliminate the stigma of talking about mental health, help people understand suicide risk factors, stay connected with others and talk openly about problems, the AP reported.

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Two Lysol Products Can Kill Coronavirus: EPA

Two Lysol products are the first to be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as able to kill the new coronavirus on hard, non-porous surfaces.

The EPA said laboratory tests found that Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist destroy the virus two minutes after contact, CNN reported.

The agency says there are 420 disinfectant products that are effective against “harder-to-kill” viruses than the new coronavirus, but the two Lysol are products are the first to be tested directly against the virus and be able to kill it.

A recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that Americans said they were cleaning more often because of the coronavirus pandemic, but only about half said they actually knew how to clean and disinfect their home safely, CNN reported.

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Brazil’s President Diagnosed With COVID-19

After months of downplaying the new coronavirus, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for COVID-19.

He was tested on Monday and announced the result on TV Tuesday, CNN reported.

“Everyone knew that it would reach a considerable part of the population sooner or later. It was positive for me,” he said.

On Monday, CNN Brasil reported that Bolsonaro had symptoms consistent with COVID-19, including a fever, but Bolsonaro’s office told the news outlet on Tuesday that his temperature was normal.

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