FDA revokes approval of drugs promoted by Trump
The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that it was revoking emergency authorization of two malaria drugs to treat COVID19, saying that they are “unlikely to be effective.”
The drugs, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, were heavily promoted by President Trump after a handful of small, poorly controlled studies suggested that they could work in treating the disease. Trump said he took hydroxychloroquine after he had been exposed to two people who tested positive for the coronavirus.
The agency said that after reviewing data, it had determined that the drugs, particularly hydroxychloroquine, did not demonstrate potential benefits that outweighed their risks. Earlier this spring, the FDA had also issued a warning that the drugs could cause dangerous heart arrhythmias in COVID patients. CALIFORNIA
Oscars delayed by 8 weeks
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the ABC Television Network said Monday that the 93rd Academy Awards will be held April 25, 2021, eight weeks later than originally planned because of the pandemic’s effects on the movie industry.
The Academy’s Board of Governors also decided to extend the eligibility window beyond the calendar year to Feb. 28, 2021. Now, Oscars nominations will be announced on March 15. NEW YORK
Governor slams virus scofflaws
Upset by “rampant” violations of New York’s restrictions against large gatherings and its social distancing requirements, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is threatening to reinstate closings in areas where local governments fail to enforce the rules.
Manhattan and Long Island’s affluent enclaves in the Hamptons were singled out as problem areas by Cuomo, who cited 25,000 complaints statewide of reopening violations.