JAKARTA - For the umpteenth time the President of the United States (US) Donald Trump stated that hydroxychloroquine is effective in warding off the COVID-19 virus. This statement, which he frequently makes, contradicts his own public health officials.
Trump's remarks came after Twitter banned his eldest son from posting a video touting the use of hydroxychloroquine. Even though many parties have suggested that the use of malaria drugs for COVID-19 be stopped.
The prohibition of using hydroxychloroquine is not without reason. The reason is, quoting the BBC, the drug has not been proven to be able to cure COVID-19. Meanwhile regulators warn that without proper use it can cause heart problems.
In June, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned against using the drug for the treatment of COVID-19 following reports of serious heart rhythm problems and other health problems. The FDA also revoked the emergency use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) says there is "currently no evidence" that hydroxychloroquine is effective in treating or preventing COVID-19. Institutions commissioned by WHO, the US National Institutes of Health and other medical research institutes around the world have found no evidence that hydroxychloroquine helps treat COVID-19.
Trump recommends hydroxychloroquineHydroxychloroquine was first mentioned in March by Trump. Two months later, he surprised journalists by saying he had started taking the drug.
"I can only say that from my point of view. Based on that knowledge, I think it could have a very positive impact at an early stage," Trump said, when met at the White House on Tuesday, July 28.
"I think you have nothing to lose by doing it (taking hydroxychloroquine), apart from a political point of view it doesn't seem very popular," added Trump.
President Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a video of a group called America's Frontline Doctors advocating hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. However, Facebook and Twitter removed the content as disinformation. Twitter also restricted the accounts of the US president's eldest son to 12 hours as punishment for spreading content deemed to have misinformation.
In the video, Dr Stella Immanuel, a doctor from Houston, says she has successfully treated 350 COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine. "I think they are very respected doctors. There is a woman who is spectacular in her statement about it (hydroxychloroquine)," Trump said.
Late Monday, Trump also retweeted several tweets criticizing Dr Anthony Fauci, a leading member of the US COVID-19 Task Force. But Trump denied that he criticized Fauci.
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