HIGHLANDS and Islands MSP David Stewart has said he is still seeking “real reassurance” that the Scottish Government is properly considering if negative ion ionisers can be used to combat Covid-19.

Scottish Labour’s shadow minister for public health was first contacted about these devices three days into the March lockdown but said he has not yet received any real reassurance that the Scottish Government has properly investigated the potential of the devices in attempts to control the virus.

“I was contacted by a constituent in the very early days of the first lockdown who provided scientific data which suggested that negative ion ionisers could be a useful tool in the fight against the virus,” said Stewart. I have contacted the [Health Secretary], Jeane Freeman, and the minister for innovation, Ivan McKee. I have tabled Parliamentary Questions and I also raised the matter directly with the First Minister on the floor in Parliament, all to no avail.”

Ionisers create a static charge around airborne contaminants and deposit them on the nearest solid surface, which has to be kept sanitised to prevent physical transmission.

Stewart said he had been advised they were being used in other countries, and the constituent who raised it had become “deeply frustrated” at the lack of urgency.

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He added: “With the Covid crisis deepening day on day, I am again trying to encourage Scottish ministers to speed up their research into this. The [Health Secretary] replied to me on November 9 advising that the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has set up a Short Life Working Group (SLWG) to consider the evidence surrounding the efficacy of ‘air cleaning’ devices.

“Weeks later however I still do not have an answer as to when the working group will determine its findings, yet the virus continues to spread.

Stewart called for an “injection of urgency” on the matter, he has tabled more Parliamentary Questions on the matter and maintains it is “essential” every avenue is explored in controlling Covid.

Health campaigner Pete Gavin, who raised the issue with Stewart, said he did not have an easy route to highlight the possible benefits of the devices after he uncovered 14 scientific papers which, he said, made the case for reviewing air sanitation using them.

“Of the many professors I spoke to, of the multiple scientists I engaged with, each one took it upon themselves to pronounce to me this won’t work,” he said.

“None provided a scientific argument why it wouldn’t, all neglected to review their own peers’ work on the subject, and in fact a few made the ‘won’t work’ pronouncement, but then asked me ‘how does ionisation work’?”

A Scottish Government spokesperson confirmed that an SLWG had been set up to “consider the devices. They added: “NHS Scotland were represented on this group and though there are no plans for the SLWG to meet again, we will continue to monitor the situation.”