Coronavirus update: US FDA cautions consumers against toxin in hand sanitisers

The United States Food and Drug Administration announced August 13, 2020 the presence of 1-propanol, a toxin that can depress the central nervous system, in hand sanitisers. It urged consumers “not to use these 1-propanol-contaminated products” and has expanded its do-not-use list of hand sanitisers.

It had earlier recalled at least 100 sanitisers containing toxin methanol. 

• Scientists are looking to inject designer versions of monoclonal antibodies to disable the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. However, most of the world’s population don’t have access to them, according to a report published August 13, 2020.
• The report charts out a roadmap to making these life-saving treatments affordable and available, particularly to those living in low- and middle-income countries.
• Australian scientsts are looking to turn the unique virus-busting antibodies found in alpacas into a treatment for the COVID-19 pandemic. They are attempting to extract and purify the antibodies, which could possibly be injected into or inhaled by patients as a potent preventative or cure.
• Meanwhile, China is prioritising giving the coronavirus vaccine to its military. CanSino Biologics, a Chinese vaccine maker that has announced several sets of positive trial results, has begun providing a vaccine to People’s Liberation Army soldiers, even though safety testing for commercial sale of the product is not yet complete.
• India registered the highest single-day spike of 66,999 cases on August 13 and reported 942 deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of infections now stand at 2,396,637. 
• At least 47,033 people have died of the virus in India.
• The recovery rate, however, has gone up to 70.76 per cent, with a total of 1,695,982 people recovering in the country, according to the Union health ministry. 
• Andhra Pradesh, which has a huge spike in the caseload in the last few days, added another 9,597 to its tally and 93 fresh casualties.  
• Telangana reported 1931 new cases and 11 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 86,475 and the toll to 665
• Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust chief has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• The United States government has entered into a $1.525 billion deal with Moderna, a US-based biotech company, for securing the supply of 100 million doses of the novel Coronavirus vaccine that the company is developing.
• The world has so far registered 20,830,254 COVID-19 cases and 747,628 deaths, according to worldometer.com. 
• Of the 6,357,366 currently infected patients (active cases), 6,292,763 (1 per cent) are in critical condition. 

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