Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup September 23, 2020

FDA News Release

• For Immediate Release: September 23, 2020

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

• FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions at a hearing entitled, “COVID-19: An Update on the Federal Response.”
• FDA today posted a document summarizing updated evidence to support the emergency use of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma. The agency will continue to review the circumstances and appropriateness of the authorization for emergency use. To make this information accessible to the public, the document posted on the web presents FDA’s review in relatively plain language.
• Testing updates:
  • As of today, 252 tests are authorized by FDA under EUAs; these include 202 molecular tests, 46 antibody tests, and 4 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.