Coronavirus: Trump may take unproven drug that could be ‘so beautiful’
- Trump says he make take the drug, despite no evidence it was safe or effective for Covid-19 treatment
- Critics have assailed Trump for repeatedly hailing an unproven treatment
US President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday he “may” take the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, despite no evidence the drug is effective and safe for preventing or treating the coronavirus.
He also suggested that his doctors have not yet prescribed him the drug, but said he would ask them about it.
“If it were me - in fact, I might do it anyway. I may take it, OK? I may take it,” he said at a press briefing. “And I’ll have to ask my doctors about that, but I may take it.”
The nation’s top infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, who is often featured at Trump’s daily press briefings, has warned Americans that there is no evidence that the drug is effective in preventing or treating coronavirus.
He has described a small study involving the drug’s use as a coronavirus treatment as “anecdotal evidence”, and said controlled clinical trials were necessary to determine whether it is effective and safe for use in Covid-19 patients.
