This rumor is not credible. Do not use chlorine dioxide patch to prevent novel coronavirus, which will seriously harm your health.
Chlorine dioxide is a common disinfectant for tap water with high oxidation, which has a wide disinfection pH range and can maintain a very high disinfection efficiency in the range of pH 2- 10. However, chlorine dioxide is a strong irritating gas, which mainly causes eye and respiratory irritation after contact. Inhalation of high concentration can cause pulmonary edema, and long-term contact can also lead to chronic bronchitis. Skin contact with high concentration chlorine dioxide aqueous solution can also cause strong irritation and corrosion. Chlorine dioxide is sensitive to light, heat, vibration and friction because of its strong oxidation, and can react explosively with many chemicals to generate hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric acid). Combustible materials (such as wood, paper, oil, clothes, etc. ) will cause combustion. Therefore, chlorine dioxide is in direct contact with human body, which is extremely harmful. ACGIH stipulates that the exposure threshold of chlorine dioxide should not exceed 0.3 ppm(0.9 mg/m3) within 15 minutes, which will cause harm to human body.
The chlorine dioxide patch is actually a patch-type chlorine dioxide gas generator, which includes a breathable bag with a detachable opening. Sticking the patch in the packaging container of the goods to be preserved, the chlorine dioxide gas generated in the bag permeates and escapes to the outside of the bag, forming a fresh-keeping gas protection ring around the fresh-keeping fruits and vegetables, thus achieving the effect of anti-corrosion and fresh-keeping (patent CN 10 1755895B). According to the application method of the patch, it needs to be used in a relatively closed environment to achieve the purpose of sterilization. But also mainly used for non-living preservation.
If the chlorine dioxide patch is attached to the body, it will produce a higher concentration of chlorine dioxide around the body. If 100 ppm of chlorine dioxide can be produced, it will far exceed the threshold specified by ACGIH, which is extremely harmful to human body. The generated chlorine dioxide may also react with the fabric, leading to fading or damage, and may even lead to clothing burning. In addition, the human body is in an open environment, and most of the generated chlorine dioxide will overflow, causing air pollution.
To sum up, chlorine dioxide patch can form a "protective barrier" around the body to help intercept virus infection, which is purely a rumor.