Protecting against the COVID-19 virus might—might—be able to involve both pleasure and risk, in the method outlined in a new study:
“Possibility of Disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in Human Respiratory Tract by Controlled Ethanol Vapor Inhalation,” Tsumoru Shintake, arXiv 2003.12444. (Thanks to Vaughn Tan for bringing this to our attention.) The author, at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan, explains:
How to Sterilize in our Respiratory Tract— As shown in Fig. 1, we inhale the ethanol vapor of alcohol solution at 50~60°C through the nostrils using a tall cup (heat insulating styrofoam, or a wine glass). We fill ~30 ml Whisky, diluting with 30 ml hot water (90°C)….
if we use the spray for ethanol disinfection experiments, the outcomes would fluctuate greatly, and always higher concentration would be required. Also, in practice, the ethanol spray should be avoided, because of possible fire accident. Therefore, the author proposes inhalation of the ethanol vapor through the nose, which then condenses inside our respiratory tract, and thus disinfects the corona virus.