Trump Reveals He’s Taking Hydroxychloroquine To Protect Himself Against COVID-19 Despite Warnings Of Fatal Side Effects

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President Trump

President Donald Trump on Monday said he has been taking hydroxychloroquine anti-malaria drug to protect himself against the coronavirus, although scientists have warned about its fatal side effects.

Trump told reporters about his use of the drug and a zinc supplement daily “for about a week and a half.”

The US President has been pushing the drug as a potential cure for COVID-19 for weeks, contrary to cautionary advice from top medical professionals working with him.

According to Trump, his doctor did not recommend the drug, but he requested for it from the White House physician, saying; I started taking it, because I think it’s good. I’ve heard a lot of good stories.

The physician, Dr. Sean Conley, in a statement released, said after “numerous discussions” with Trump about the evidence for and against using hydroxychloroquine, “we concluded the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks.”

Trump had earlier promoted the drug as a potential treatment based on a positive report about its use against the virus, but subsequent studies found that it was not helpful.

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration warned health professionals that the drug should not be used to treat COVID-19 outside of hospital or research settings, due to fatal side effect like “serious heart rhythm problems in patients with COVID-19.”

Trump, however dismissed this report, saying; “All I can tell you is, so far I seem to be OK.”

Several prominent doctors and other health practitioners have taken to Twitter to lash out at Trump over his actions, saying it sets a bad example for Americans and the world as a whole.

See reactions below;

Since the outbreak of the virus, Trump has made numerous misguided assertions which led to him been the subject of worldwide vilification.

He was recently criticised for not wearing face masks at public gathering, even though it has been recommended by health bodies.

Last week, he downplayed the dangers of coronavirus, saying the virus only threatened a small number of people.

His statement however, is a huge contrast to current figures. As at May 19th, there are 1,554,272 confirmed cases, and 92,188 deaths – the highest figures in the world.

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