A BURNLEY-BASED company has developed what it believes could be a major weapon in the fight against coronavirus.

Shieldplus is an anti-virus spray which scientists say can be used on any surface to protect it from Covid-19 for up to 90 days.

The spray has been developed by Panaz, an anti-microbial fabrics specialist based on Bentley Wood Way in Hapton and company directors believe it could have huge ramifications.

Chief executive Tony Attard said: “We believe our product could be a game-changer in helping economies get back to life. Its potential applications are countless.

“It could be the key for a return to work for thousands of people who are still working from home as an application could make office and factory environments so much safer for a long period of time.

“That in itself would get the economy up and running again.”

The company, which supplies the NHS and the global health care industry, says that Shieldplus has undergone rigorous independent laboratory tests and is based on a formula that has been used to combat the spread of viral and bacterial diseases in hospitals for many years especially on curtains around beds in the past.

Previously, the Shieldplus formula was only used on textiles but now Panaz has developed it so that it can be bottled to help protect people during their everyday lives by applying it to any surface.

This could prove crucial, since coronavirus can live on unprotected surfaces like cardboard for 24 hours, wood two days, cloth two days, glass four days and the outside of surgical masks seven days.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mr Attard said: “We first created the formula almost 20 years ago to use on textiles.

“It was at the time when MRSA and the other super bugs were rife, and people were suffering hospital acquired diseases. We used the treated textiles on hospital bed cubicle curtains.

“The formula attracted and then killed off bacteria which significantly tackled the superbug issue.

“Since Covid-19 struck we have developed the formula so that it can be distributed in containers and used as an effective spray on all kinds of surfaces killing off and protecting against not only bacterial infections but viral as well.”