US President Donald Trump shocked reporters by revealing that he has been taking the anti-malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine as a preventative against the coronavirus, following the advice of the White House physician.
“I’ve been taking it for about a week and a half now and I’m still here,” he said on Monday, following a meeting with governors at the White House.
Asked what evidence he had that the drug was helpful, Trump said “I get a lot of positive calls about it,” before adding, “What do you have to lose?”
TRUMP: "I've been taking it for about a week and a half now & I'm still here."
REPORTER: "What is the evidence that it has a preventative effect?"
TRUMP: "Are you ready? Here's my evidence — I get a lot of positive calls about it … what do you have to lose?" pic.twitter.com/LRhnPA8JYP
Trump had mentioned the drug in the early days of the pandemic, apparently citing the research of a famous if controversial French physician who used it to treat Covid-19 patients, and has hosted a Democrat state legislator who recovered from the virus with the help of HCQ.
The media and the medical establishment, however, rallied in condemnation of such treatment as unproven or even dangerous, saying it could lead to fatal heart problems in some people. They also cited preliminary studies suggesting it did little or nothing to help Covid-19 patients, admittedly treated at late stages of the disease.
