Trump says taking hydroxychloroquine as preventive measure against COVID-19

Washington:US President Donald Trump has said that he is taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure against the novel coronavirus disease, even though it is not yet a proven treatment.

''I happen to be taking it. A lot of good things have come out. You'd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the front-line workers. Before you catch it. The front-line workers, many, many are taking it,'' said Trump during a roundtable event at the White House on Monday, CNBC reported.

''I'm taking it, hydroxychloroquine. Right now, yeah. Couple of weeks ago, I started taking it. Cause I think it's good, I've heard a lot of good stories,'' he added.Trump also said that he is taking zinc, and that he has taken an initial dose of azithromycin, or Z-Pak.When asked whether the White House physician had recommended he start taking the disputed remedy, Trump said he himself had requested it.

Dr Sean Conley, physician to the president, said in a statement issued through the White House later on Monday that Mr Trump was in 'very good health' and 'symptom-free'.

"After numerous discussions he and I had regarding the evidence for and against the use of hydroxychloroquine, we concluded the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks,'' Conley said. 

Trump has publicly touted hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to both prevent and treat malaria and autoimmune diseases such as lupus as a possible ''game changer'' in efforts to contain the  coronavirus disease.Numerous clinical trials are looking to see if it's effective in fighting the coronavirus, but it is not a proven treatment yet.

Trump's comments come weeks after the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the drug, saying it became aware of reports of 'serious heart rhythm problems' in patients with the virus who were treated with the malaria drug, often in combination with antibiotic azithromycin.(UNI)