HCQ and PPE used together cut Covid risk by 80%: ICMR

NEW DELHI: Firming up its stand on prophylactic use of HCQ, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has cited findings of its casecontrolled study which showed that a sustained intake of the anti-malarial drug along with appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) led to a significant decline of Covid-19 risk, by up to 80%, among healthcare workers.
According to the findings published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR), consumption of four or more maintenance doses was associated with a significant decline (>80%) in the risk of Covid-19 infection among the ‘participants’.
Despite WHO suspending trials using HCQ, ICMR has maintained its recommendations and has approved use of the drug based on studies conducted in India, which have indicated anti-viral properties with no major side-effects.
“Biologically, it appears plausible that HCQ prophylaxis, before onset of infection, may inhibit the virus from gaining a foothold,” researchers said in the study.