First Student pulls its claim that disinfectant kills COVID

Cincinnati-based First Student removes its claim that school bus disinfectant "kills" COVID-19 for up to 30 days.

The disinfectant is not on the EPA approved list of 475 COVID disinfectants.

WE START TONIGHT -- WITH AWCPO 9 ITEAM INVESTIGATION.CINCINNATI-BASED "FIRSTSTUDENT" -- THE COUNTRY'SáLARGEST SCHOOL BUS SERVICECOMPANY -- HAS CLAIMED IT'SUSING A DISINFECTANT ON SCHOOLBUSES THAT CAN KILL THECORONAVIRUS FOR UP TO 30DAYS.BUT A WCPO 9 I-TEAMINVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THEE-P-A HASN'T áAPPROVED THEDISINFECTANT AS A PRODUCT THATKILLS THE VIRUS -- MUCH LESSFOR 30 DAYS.

ACTING ON AVIEWER TIP -- CHIEFINVESTIGATIVE REPORTER CRAIGCHEATHAM DUG THROUGH E-P-ARECORDS -- AND SPOKE TO THE C-E-O OF THE DISINFECTANTCOMPANY TO REVEAL THE TRUTH.Cincinnati-based FirstStudent, the largest schoolbus service company in thecountry, is sharing its backto school plan designed forthe pandemic.YOU CAN BE ASSURED THATWE'RE DOING EVERYTHINGPOSSIBLE TO HELP PREVENT ANDREDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.First Student Senior LocationManager Kenn Jones says partof that plan includes treatingschool buses with Zoono Z71, anon-toxic disinfectant thatkills thecoronavirus.ZOONO-Z71 WILL PROVIDELASTING PROTECTION AGAINST THECOVID VIRUS FOR UP TO 30 DAYS.These are screen grabs theI-Team captured on Wednesdayfrom First Student's publicwebsite designed for parents.There, First Student claimedZoono Z71 kills thecoronavirus that causesCOVID-19 and provides up to 30days of protection, addingthat the product is registeredwith the EPA.The product isregistered with the EPA as adisinfectant, but the WCPO 9I-Team learned Zoono Z71 isnot among the 475 productsapproved by the E-P-A to killthe coronavirus on surfaces,much less kill the virus for30days.WE CANNOT MAKE THAT CLAIM INTHE USA.

I THINK IT WAS AGENUINE MISTAKE, I BELIEVE.Zoono CEO Paul Hyslop spokewith the I-Team on Zoom fromhis office in NewZealand.EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR AMIRACLE PRODUCT.

OUR PRODUCTIS A GOOD PRODUCT.

I DON'TBELIEVE IT'S A MIRACLEPRODUCT.

Hyslop told the I-Team a national government labin a country he declined toname proved Zoono Z71 can killa lab-created surrogatecoronavirus up to 30 daysafter the disinfectant isapplied to a surface.

He saysChina and South Korea acceptedthe test results and allowZoono to claim thedisinfectant can kill thevirus for 30 days.Hyslop saysin Australia and the UK Zoonocan claim its product killsthe virus, but Hyslop saysthose countries didn't accepttest results supporting the 30day claims because of themethodology used in the tests.IT WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT EASIERIF THERE WAS A GLOBAL STANDARD.Hyslop says he's optimisticZoono will soon be added tothe EPA's approved list ofdisinfectants that kill thevirus that causesCOVID-19.WE HAVE APPLIED DIRECTLY TOTHE EPA FOR AN EMERGENCYAPPROVAL.

WE HAVE GOT TESTINGUNDERWAY AT THE MOMENT IN THEUS FOR 30 DAY CLAIMS.In awritten statement provided tothe I-Team, First Student said"At First Student, there isnothing more important thanthe safety, health andwell-being of our passengersand employees.

Since theinterview last week, we havebeen in contact with Mr.Hyslop regarding the claimsthat can be made about hisproduct in the U.S." TheI-Team asked First StudentSpokesman Chris Kemper if thatmeant First Student wouldretract or clarify it's claimsabout the disinfectant.

Hesaid First Student is changingits claims to reflect whatZoono is allowed to say aboutits product.THE I-TEAM INVESTIGATED THISSTORY INVESTIGATED THE I-TEAMINVESTIGATED THIS STORYINVESTIGATED THIS STORY BASEDON A TIP FROM A VIEWER,SPENCER BOULDIN.

WE HAVE MOREON WHAT PROMPTED HIS CONCERNSON WCPO.COM.

CRAIG CHEATHAMWCPO 9 I-TEAM.AS A RESULT OF THE I-TEAM'SREPORTING---FIRST STUDENT HASNOW REMOVED THE CLAIMS ABOUTTHE DISINFECTANT FROM ITSWEBSITE.