(RxWiki News) The number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at publication time, 4,163,892 coronavirus cases and 145,982 deaths had been reported in the US.
Compared to just 20 days ago, those numbers were 2,932,596 for coronavirus cases and 130,133 for related deaths. This is a difference of more than 1 million cases.
However, the CDC noted that the agency does not know the exact number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. This is because symptoms might not appear immediately, there is a delay in reporting and testing, and they know many people are not getting tested or seeking medical care. Plus, the CDC noted that there may be differences in how states are confirming COVID-19 numbers.
New information continues to become available as health officials learn more about the virus. As coronavirus cases continue to increase, the search for an effective treatment and vaccine also continues.
Many new tests have been approved through emergency use authorizations (EUAs), including the following:
- Combination tests for COVID-19 and the flu: Influenza SARS-CoV-2 (Flu SC2) Multiplex Assay
- Antigen tests: BD (Becton Dickinson) Veritor System for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2
- Next-generation sequence technology: COVIDSeq Test (Illumina, Inc.)
Recently, the FDA has issued warnings regarding the possible dangers of certain hand sanitizer products. These hand sanitizers may contain methanol (wood alcohol), which can be toxic — especially when absorbed through the skin or ingested.
Furthermore, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent warning letters to several companies for making false claims related to COVID-19 treatments. These companies have made claims that their products can treat or prevent COVID-19. Some of these fraudulent products include essential oils, patches, gels, CBD products, teas and tinctures, colloidal silver and dietary supplements.
A few things the FDA wants the public to know when trying to judge whether a product is legitimate:
- If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- “Miracle cures” that claim a scientific breakthrough or contain a secret ingredient are likely a scam.
- You can’t test yourself for COVID-19.
