For immediate publication:

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

  • Today, the FDA launched the first ever “FDA Insight” podcast, with FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and FDA Deputy Commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs, Anand Shah, MD, discussing the COVID-19 efforts of the FDA, including the drug development process for a COVID-19 treatments. Future FDA Insight podcasts will feature insights from Hahn, Shah, and other FDA leaders on the issues facing the agency, including the COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging issues.
  • FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD spoke at the Brussels 2020 Forum of the German Marshall Fund. This 15th edition of the forum, broadcast live / posted on YouTube, featured a 25-minute conversation with Dr. Hahn, moderated by Axios Health Care editor Sam Panadero.
  • Today, United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, issued the following joint USDA-FDA statement regarding food export restrictions related to COVID-19 :

    The United States understands the concerns of local and global consumers who want to know that producers, processors and regulators are taking all necessary precautions to prioritize food safety, especially during these difficult times. However, efforts by some countries to restrict global food exports related to transmission of COVID-19 are not consistent with the known science of transmission.

    There is no evidence that people can get COVID-19 from food or food packaging. The US food security system. USA, overseen by our agencies, is the world leader in ensuring the safety of our food products, including exported products.

  • Testing for updates:
    • To date, there are 149 tests currently licensed under the US; These include 125 molecular tests, 23 antibody tests, and 1 antigen test.

The FDA, an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services. The US protects public health by ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and safety of medicines, vaccines, and other biological products for human use and medical devices for humans and veterinarians. The agency is also responsible for the security of the supply of food, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that emit electronic radiation from our country and for regulating tobacco products.

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