Donald Trump has insisted that his suggestion people with coronavirus could be treated with injections of disinfectant was “sarcastic” after a heated and widespread backlash.

The US president also denied urging medical experts to look into the idea - despite footage making clear he had done just that - and said the remarks were meant for reporters.

“I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen,” Mr Trump told a journalist who asked him to clarify, repeatedly saying he had been sarcastic.

The backtracking came after medical experts, political opponents, figures in the Trump administration and even a detergent company had warned of the dangers of such action.

The makers of cleaning fluids Lysol and Dettol issued a statement saying “under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body”.

A spokesman for the US Environmental Protection Agency said disinfectants should be used for surfaces only, adding: “Never apply the product to yourself or others. Do not ingest disinfectant products."