US spirits company Tito Beveridge has warned Americans their vodka cannot be used as a hand sanitizer amid reports that the beverage can be used to protect from the coronavirus. The company took to Twitter to dismiss reports that Tito’s Handmade Vodka can be used as disinfectant.
News about the spread of the coronavirus in the United States has caused panic among the public with people emptying shelves in the supermarkets and pharmacies. This resulted in a spike in prices for hand sanitizers and disinfectants, with a two-pack of Purell hygienic gel now selling on Amazon for $350, while in Walmart, although it is unavailable, it costs $22. The subsequent shortage of these types of products apparently caused people to resort to making their own.
The number of coronavirus cases inside the United States rose to 307 on Friday. This number doesn’t include 21 US citizens who contracted the virus on a cruise ship off California. The death toll from the infectious disease has risen to 17.