Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup August 18, 2020

FDA News Release

• For Immediate Release: August 18, 2020

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the following actions taken in its ongoing response effort to the COVID-19 pandemic:

• The FDA is providing two new flowcharts and supporting information on respirators:
  • For health care providers and facilities: Considerations for Selecting Respirators for Your Health Care Facility
    
    For manufacturers and distributors: Manufacturing and Distributing Respirators for Health Care Use in the United States Under an Existing Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• The FDA has updated its COVID-19 Resources for Health Professionals page to include the CURE ID app. CURE ID allows clinicians to quickly and easily share their experiences treating COVID-19 patients and patients with other difficult-to-treat infectious diseases.
• Testing updates:
  • To date, the FDA has currently authorized 217 tests under EUAs; these include 176 molecular tests, 39 antibody tests, and 2 antigen tests.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.