News
Coronavirus Government Response Update—Number of Faulty Hand Sanitizers Continues to Rise
August 5, 2020
Welcome to the Coronavirus Government Response Update. This information is intended to keep ISSA members up to date on fast-moving government affairs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other public policy issues important to the cleaning industry. Today’s update touches on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s inclusion of additional faulty hand sanitizers to its list, the rocky road the economy faces as it enters the healing phase, a U.S. Senator’s warning that a new wave of small business layoffs may be on the horizon, and more.
Number of Faulty Hand Sanitizers Up to 101
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s list of hand sanitizers to avoid has expanded to 101. The FDA first warned consumers in June about the presence of methanol, and now the agency is also warning about insufficient levels of alcohol to eliminate germs such as SARS-CoV-2. FDA test results revealed that some products’ active ingredients did not contain at least 60% of ethanol alcohol or other active ingredients, putting them below the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s recommended standard.
Economy Faces Rocky Road as it Enters Healing Phase
According to Economist Michelle Meyer, the U.S. economy is in the third stage of the coronavirus pandemic called the “healing phase,” which follows the lockdown and transition phases when businesses shut down and then began reopening. “This is the part of the cycle where things are going to be a little bit harder, it’s going to be a bumpy ride ahead,” she said. The June jobs report, which showed a record increase of 4.8 million nonfarm payrolls, will be the “high-water mark” in terms of monthly payroll growth, she added. According to CNBC, some economists “expect job growth will slow as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise and business uncertainty remains high.”
Rubio Warns of Surge in Small Business Layoffs if PPP Money Dries Up
On Wednesday, Senator Marco Rubio (FL-R) warned that a new wave of small business layoffs could come if Congress does not continue funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) into the next coronavirus relief package. According to CNBC, evidence shows that the PPP helped keep the economy from completely collapsing after COVID-19 led to nationwide business closures. In fact, a preliminary study estimates the program saved a whopping 1.4 million to 3.2 million jobs.
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