CDC updates coronavirus guidance; FDA reports a related drug shortage

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday issued updated guidance for health care professionals evaluating and reporting patients under investigation for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 

CDC continues to trace the contacts from the 15th U.S. COVID-19 case, who may be the first case of community spread in the U.S. Confusion and questions over testing of the case prompted CDC to say that it was first aware of the patient Feb. 23 and was able to confirm the case by Feb. 26.

In a press briefing today, Nancy Messonnier, M.D., director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said the agency hopes to have every state and local public health department able to test for coronavirus by the end of next week. 

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday reported the first drug shortage related to a site affected by coronavirus, citing an issue with manufacturing an active ingredient in the drug. It did not name the drug, but said other alternatives are available to patients. 

The AHA joined 13 other organizations in urging the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to quickly advance the Mitigating Emergency Drug Shortages (MEDS) Act (S.2723), which they called “a holistic and sustainable approach to eliminating drugs shortages and addressing vulnerabilities in the drug supply chain.”

The World Health Organization today raised its assessment of the risk of COVID-19 spread to “very high at a global level,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, citing continued increases in cases and affected countries. 

For the latest information and resources, visit AHA’s coronavirus webpage.