An Ontario Clinic Was Caught Selling Unapproved Treatments For The Coronavirus

Fears surrounding COVID-19 have been spreading throughout the province as residents stock up on hand sanitizer and toilet paper. A holistic health clinic in Sarnia, Ontario is in trouble with the FDA after advertising products that claim to help treat the virus.Sarnia's Vivify Holistic Clinic was one of seven businesses that were sent a warning letter from the FDA, threatening legal action if they continued to promote products that claim to treat COVID-19.

It was the only Canadian clinic that was sent the warning, according to Global News. The company was reportedly selling products online that were "intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose or cure COVID-19 in people," CBC News reports. The website was operated by the Vivify Holistic Clinic, and the FDA noted that they were using their Facebook page to promote the controversial products.  They would then redirect people from Facebook to their website to buy the products, which could be sold internationally as they were up online for purchase.The letter gives 48 hours to remove all products and claims from their website. It appears, however, that the site has already removed these claims.  

The letter continues on to say that "it is unlawful under the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq., to advertise that a product can prevent, treat, or cure human disease unless you possess competent and reliable scientific evidence, including, when appropriate, well-controlled human clinical studies, substantiating that the claims are true at the time they are made.""There currently are no vaccines, pills, potions, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products available to treat or cure coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Thus, the claims cited above are not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence. You must immediately cease making all such claims."

The website claimed to have herbal cures, supplements, and extracts for the virus. Their website now has a disclaimer that their products are not FDA approved, and they have changed the name of the website to herbalprotocol.com. Their Facebook page now appears to have had no recent posts since the virus broke out in January. 

The letter from the FDA also stated that "violations of the FTC Act may result in legal action seeking a Federal District Court injunction and an order may require that you pay back money to consumers."

Currently, a lab in Canada is working towards creating a vaccine for the virus. However, it could take over a year before it hits the markets. 

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