What is hydroxychloroquine and does it prevent COVID-19?
President Trump said Monday that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine. Although Trump has been touting the drug for months, it has not been proven to treat or prevent the virus.
Video Transcript
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DARA KASS: The President of the United States declared that he's been taking prophylactic, preventative hydroxychloroquine to prevent him from getting the coronavirus.
DONALD TRUMP: I happen to be taking it.
- Hydroxychloroquine?
DONALD TRUMP: I'm taking it, hydroxychloroquine.
- When?
DONALD TRUMP: Right now, yeah. A couple of weeks ago I started taking it.
DARA KASS: Hydroxychloroquine is a medication that's been around for a really long time. It is used regularly for people that are at risk of contracting malaria as a preventative medication. It's also used for patients that have lupus or other autoimmune diseases to make sure they don't get sicker.
The FDA has said it is not in the general interest of the population to take hydroxychloroquine to prevent the coronavirus. It is clearly stated on their website. Anyone that is concerned should go to FDA.gov and look for themselves. The president said that he knows a lot of doctors are taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent them from getting the coronavirus.
DONALD TRUMP: But you look at frontline workers, you look at doctors and nurses, a lot of them are taking it as a preventative.
DARA KASS: There are clinical trials for healthcare workers exposed to the coronavirus that they have chosen to join under a scientific method. That is not the same as somebody asking their doctor, even if they're the President of the United States, for a medication just because they think it's a good idea. The President of the United States is supposed to lead by example. This is an example that regular people can't follow.
