Trump says FDA will fast track treatments as number of U.S. virus cases tops 10,000
WASHINGTON, DC -- President Donald Trump said Thursday that he's pushed the Food and Drug Administration to eliminate barriers to getting therapeutics for coronavirus to patients.
The word came at a White House task force briefing as the number of virus cases in the U.S. topped 10,000.
There are at least 10,259 cases of the novel coronavirus in the country, according to state and local health agencies, governments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the CDC there are 70 cases from repatriated citizens. According to a tally of U.S. cases that are detected and tested in the United States through public health systems, there are 10,189 cases in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and other US territories, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 10,259.
In total, 152 people have died.
Trump said the FDA was fast-tracking a possible treatment.
"The therapies are something we can move on much faster, potentially. The treatments that will be able to reduce the severity and duration of the symptoms, make people better," he said.
"I've directed the FDA to eliminate outdated rules and bureaucracy, so this work can proceed rapidly, quickly, and, I mean, fast. We have to remove every barrier. There were a lot of barrier that were unnecessary. They've done that to get the rapid deployment of safe, effective treatments, and we think we have some good answers. We'll find out very, very soon," Trump said speaking on clinical trials.
Trump said the FDA is authorizing the use of a drug called Chloroquine to treat the symptoms of COVID-19. It's also used to treat symptoms of malaria and arthritis.
"This is beyond right to try. If treatment is known to be safe in Europe, Japan, or other nations, or effective against a virus, we will use that information to protect the health and safety of American people. Nothing will stand in our way as we pursue any avenue to find what best works against this horrible virus."
