Do “Virus Shut Out” Cards Work?  I Bought One to Find Out.

Do “Virus Shut Out” Cards Work? I Bought One to Find Out.

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Welton Wang
Independent
Managing Editor
Contributor on The Bipartisan Press

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A product that’s trending with buyers called “Virus Shut Out,” sold by Japanese company Toamit claims to kills viruses and bacteria, as well as prevent allergies. The “Virus Shut Out” is a necklace/card that contains chlorine dioxide that you are supposed to wear around your neck, thereby sanitizing the air around you. It’s supposedly effective for 30 days and suitable for “offices, schools, hospitals, and nursing facilities.”

While not specifically marketed to kill the coronavirus and prevent COVID-19, consumers have grown into a frenzy and swept up the product faster than Toamit can carry it. As of writing, the Virus Shut Out card is listed as sold out on Toamit’s official website.

However, despite its newfound popularity, there is no evidence that it works. The product is currently banned on eBay and Facebook.


While chlorine dioxide is an effective germ killer and used to sanitize surfaces, Dr. Ariane Davison – a virologist and immunologist – says that the necklace “will do nothing to protect you by inactivating respiratory viruses.”

” [T]he device is worn around your neck – nowhere near your nose and mouth which are the key portals for Covid infection. Should you bring the device closer to your face, the active ingredient, chlorine dioxide, would cause severe respiratory and eye irritations and skin burns, as it is highly corrosive.”

The Virus Shut Out necklace has already been banned by authorities in Asia but is still being sold.

Curious to see just what the Virus Shut Out card from Japan does, I picked one off a third-party seller — which was selling for ridiculous prices by the way — at $10 apiece.

About two weeks later, it arrived.

I suffer from seasonal allergies, and I’ve been having runny noses throughout the day lately, so I took the “Virus Shut Out” necklace out from its airtight packaging to see if it would live up to its hype of preventing bacteria, viruses, pollen, and allergies.

I put the necklace on and waited for it to do its magic.

A few hours later, I felt no different.

The dry pellet inside the necklace is supposed to react with air to form chlorine dioxide, so I thought maybe it just needed some time to activate.


I wore the necklace for three days, going out a few times to buy groceries and getting some weird looks from other shoppers.

At the end of the three days, my allergies were just as bad as before.

While I wasn’t able to test it on actual viruses and bacteria, the “Virus Shut Out” had essentially no effect on allergies and pollen, which it advertises as preventing.

I’m going to have to call BS on this one. Science is too. The “Virus Shut Out” necklace and other similar products are scams and will do nothing to prevent you from getting the coronavirus — or any disease for that matter.

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COMMENTS (12)

  • comment-avatar
    Longbunra March 16, 2020

    I want to buy 10pcs can be cost 120$

  • comment-avatar
    Longbunra March 17, 2020

    I need 10pcs of Virus Shut out please and this is my email: longbunnra@gmail.com

  • comment-avatar
    FLORENCE DURAN March 17, 2020

    Neutral Bias?

    1. “Virus shut out” – Id type is not hype.
    It is an effective protective device or gear in addition to preventive measures such as masks, alcohol, disinfectants and the like.

    2. The device is worn around your neck – A suitable control measure to combat any virus indoor and outdoor.

    3. The active ingredient, chlorine dioxide, is an “effective germ killer” but NOT TO PUT nowhere near your nose and mouth which are the key portals for Covid infection. Should you bring the device closer to your face, it would cause severe respiratory and eye irritations and skin burns, as it is highly corrosive.”

    4. VIRUS SHUT OUT is not a vaccine nor a pharma medicine.
    It is a piece of effective protective equipment or gear to increase the prevention of indoor and outdoor contaminants.

    • comment-avatar

      > 1. “Virus shut out” – Id type is not hype.
      It is an effective protective device or gear in addition to preventive measures such as masks, alcohol, disinfectants and the like.

      That’s a bold claim right there. Do you have any evidence (ie, from a journal/study) that demonstrates this product, or wearing chlorine dioxide pellets are effective in preventing germs and viruses?

      > 2. The device is worn around your neck – A suitable control measure to combat any virus indoor and outdoor.

      Again, you are repeating the same thing. No evidence, no studies, no sources.

      > 3. The active ingredient, chlorine dioxide, is an “effective germ killer” but NOT TO PUT nowhere near your nose and mouth which are the key portals for Covid infection. Should you bring the device closer to your face, it would cause severe respiratory and eye irritations and skin burns, as it is highly corrosive.”

      Yes, it’s an effective killer. We both agree on that. It’s used as a disinfectant on surfaces. That doesn’t mean just wearing an activated pellet on your neck will prevent viruses. Totally different usage.

      > 4. VIRUS SHUT OUT is not a vaccine nor a pharma medicine.
      It is a piece of effective protective equipment or gear to increase the prevention of indoor and outdoor contaminants.

      Didn’t say it was a vaccine. Just said it didn’t work. I bought one and tried it. Believe me.

  • comment-avatar

    you too much bull
    Shit!

    • comment-avatar

      Which part? If you can scientifically refute and prove this works, I’ll retract the article.

      • comment-avatar

        Winston Wang, why are so determined to refute any possibility this product is effective? We have been using to prevent colds and flus before Covid, and we find it helpful. As far as I know, the manufacturer is not advertising it to prevent Covid. Let people decide if they want to wear it! Worry about yourself!

  • comment-avatar
    Johnathan March 22, 2020

    It is pretty obvious that this product is a complete scam. The COVID-19 does not care if you wear a “virus-repellent badge” around your NECK. You can still get the virus through your eyes, nose, and mouth regardless of what you wear around your neck.

  • comment-avatar
    George Shek March 30, 2020

    If you had Aids wearing a condom will not help….since your immune system is not that good better that you do a survey as to whether Vit C or Garluc pills are more effective

  • comment-avatar
    banez melinda April 27, 2020

    i have a cousin in japan. he said this product is already existing there long before corona virus. they use it to avoid catching colds and the like and found it really effective. but he did not coment about corona.

  • comment-avatar

    I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and
    amusing, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head.
    The issue is something that not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about.
    I’m very happy that I stumbled across this during my search for something regarding this.

  • comment-avatar
    Laura Nicoloff August 25, 2020

    eBay still selling it !