Californians now have increased access to hand sanitizer and medical devices, including respirators, ventilators and masks, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The increased availability is a result of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Friday executive order, in which he temporarily authorized manufacturers not currently licensed by the California Department of Public Health to make over-the-counter drugs and medical devices.
Firms not currently permanently registered will have to apply for temporary registration and remain in compliance with guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The order also postpones the deadline for paying renewal license fees.
Along with the loosening of manufacturing restrictions on these specific products, the order addresses other concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including measures to aid in the emergency placement and support of foster youth and allow the California Department of Justice to perform virtual name-based background checks for processing employment in critical sectors.
The order also permits case workers from the In-Home Supportive Services program, run by the California Department of Social Services, to continue to care for older people and people with disabilities.
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