The May-June 2020 edition of the CDC MMWR 69:1070, released on August 14th documents toxicity and mortality as a result of ingestion of hand sanitizer containing methanol.  Fifteen cases were documented from Arizona and New Mexico with four fatalities.  Survivors of methanol toxicity suffered visual impairment.  A number of hand sanitizers have been released on to the market containing unacceptable levels of methanol in place of isopropyl alcohol or ethanol.  Children may be at risk of toxicity associated with absorption of methanol through the skin.

Dr. Stephen G. Baum, Contributing Editor to the New England Journal of Medicine commenting on the MMWR report alluded to the Administration in that the problem of intoxication may relate to "suggestions that have been made to the public that ingesting of products intended for only surface use might ward off SARS-CoV-2 infection".