TAKING HCQ AS PREVENTIVE MEDICATION: TRUMP

WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump on Monday announced he has been taking the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) along with a zinc supplement despite warnings of side effects from the US drug regulator.

“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. I happen to be taking it. I happen to be taking it - hydroxychloroquine,” Trump told reporters unprompted at a roundtable with restaurant owners.

“I was just waiting to see your eyes light up when I said this,” he added for good measure.

Trump, who has so far tested negative for Covid-19 repeatedly, said he felt fine and reported no side effects. He is using the drug combination as a preventive medicine after a member of his staff tested positive for Covid-19.

Sean Conley, the American president’s physician from US

Navy, said in a statement that he and Trump have concluded that the potential benefit from treatment using HCQ “outweighed the relative risks”.

Conley added that he continues to monitor studies and reports about the use of the antimalarial drug and in consultation with public health officials and experts.

The US Food and Drug Administration has warned of side effects of using the drug such as “potentially life-threatening heart rhythm problems”.