Coronavirus

Pharmacies across the country also taking necessary steps to help facilitate COVID-19 testing and to keep patients safe.

Top news from across the health care landscape.

The new guidance for industry (GFI) document, “Policy for Temporary Compounding of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products,” was released Saturday.

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s test is designed to provide patient results within 4 hours of a sample being received by a lab.

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging the public to follow proper safety procedures and support each other, according to the latest press conference.

President Donald Trump announced the “national emergency” designation in a news conference Friday.

In its first action, the FDA has decided to not object to the New York State Department of Health’s (NYSDOH) action authorizing certain laboratories in New York to start patient testing for COVID-19.

Some of the candidates are approved by the FDA for other indications, but the majority of the agents are not currently commercially available in the United States for therapeutic use.

In the United States, the CDC has confirmed 938 cases and 29 deaths, as well as 771 patients under investigation.

Pharmacies report that are hand sanitizers are “essentially gone,” with the situation not entirely different from a drug shortage in that it’s also difficult to obtain products from wholesalers amid the coronavirus scare.

The FDA is taking action against companies that claim to treat or prevent the virus.

The United States now has more than 100 confirmed cases and 10 deaths, according to the CDC.

The greatest risk is still to people who have been in close contact with COVID-19 patients, according to the CDC.

The virus has now reached all continents except Antarctica, with cases reported in 47 countries.

As pharmacists, patients are inquiring about these kits already, and recommending such items can help prevent a lot of worry.

The FDA and the White House also announced new initiatives to combat the novel coronavirus.

In a press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom, PhD, said the decision to declare a pandemic is based on ongoing assessments of the geographic spread, the virus’s impact on overall society, and the severity of the illnesses.

As countries across the world enact policies to limit the scope of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), a report of transmission via an asymptomatic carrier could make prevention more difficult and increase global concerns.

Fears surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak have had major effects even in unaffected areas, including face mask shortages, a falling stock market, and many unsubstantiated rumors.

Although the number of US cases is still low, experts are raising concerns that the US reliance on China for pharmaceutical ingredients could result in drug shortages as Chinese officials battle the outbreak.

As the most accessible health care providers, pharmacists can play a key role in counseling patients on the best practices for infection control and prevention.

There is still no vaccine or effective antiviral treatment for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that continues to spread worldwide, and health care providers should be aware of the symptoms.

The survey, administered by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), aimed to evaluate how pharmacists and their patients are handling concerns about 2019-nCoV.

Tedros Adhanom, PhD, director general of WHO, concluded his statements in the WHO press conference by reiterating that while 2019-nCoV is of global concern, it should not lead to widespread panic.

In a tele-briefing Thursday, the CDC also reiterated that the threat to the general public in the US is still low.

The virus, first seen in Wuhan, China, is characterized by mild to severe respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

A case of the virus that reportedly originated in Wuhan City, China has been confirmed in Washington State.