Coronavirus government training certificate used by cleaning company that claimed it could ‘turn off viruses’
Australia’s Department of Health has warned companies not to use a COVID-19 training program to market their services, after a Sydney-based cleaning company called Bacteria Busters presented a certificate of completion on its website .
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The company’s website, which describes the company as “coronavirus clean-up specialists,” features images of workers dressed in hazmat suits and personal protective equipment using foggers and sprayers .
Director of operations Ariel Gallo denied that the company claimed its cleaning services could kill the coronavirus.
“No one should be making that statement.”
Training certificate for “health and support workers”
The official Australian government coat of arms features prominently at the bottom of the Bacteria Busters website, above the company name.
It boasts a certificate from the Department of Health for the completion of an e-learning course.
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“Australian Government Department of Health COVID-19 infection control training,” the website read.
The Federal Department of Health has issued a warning to private companies using the certificate to market their services.
“The Department does not endorse this or any other private cleaning company with regard to COVID-19,” a spokesperson said in a statement to Background Briefing.
“Given its importance as a formal symbol of Australia, the Commonwealth coat of arms may only be used to the extent permitted.”
The course is free and can be completed by anyone in less than 30 minutes.
“COVID-19 Infection Control Training is a 30-minute online training module for healthcare and support workers in all settings (including people with disabilities and care of the elderly), covering the Fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19. “
The ministry said it was not aware of the widespread use of the certificate by companies for marketing purposes.
Modified website
When contacted by the ABC, Mr Gallo dismissed the website’s suggestion that his company’s service was approved by the Australian government.
“I don’t believe it, I just believe it’s something that we got certified,” he said.
“I guess that assures people that you don’t just jump on it, you have some form of understanding of the precautions you need to take.”
Mr Gallo said his company had so far secured 3-4 jobs per week disinfecting buildings and factories.
The CBA has confirmed that building maintenance costs $ 3,000.
“We call ourselves a specialist, we have taken the COVID-19 infection control online training, we use the products that have been recommended to fight, not kill, fight the virus,” he said.
“We believe we have all the equipment to qualify as a specialist.
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Before Bacteria Busters was contacted by the ABC, its website claimed that its team used “industrial grade disinfectants with broad spectrum ability to kill bacteria and deactivate viruses.”
Since being interviewed by the ABC, the wording of the Bacteria Busters website has changed so that it now claims it can only “kill bacteria and potentially disable viruses”.
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