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Trump Defends Use of Hydroxychloroquine

Steve Herman

   WHITE HOUSE - U.S. President Donald Trump is defending his promotion
   and personal use of an anti-malaria drug as a medication against
   COVID-19.'¯'¯

   "This is an individual decision to make,"'¯Trump said, adding that'¯the
   decades-old drug, hydroxychloroquine, has a "great reputation."'¯'¯The
   president has tested negative for COVID-19 several times.

   There is no solid scientific evidence that the drug can prevent or
   treat the disease caused by the coronavirus, which has killed'¯an
   estimated 321,999 people globally.'¯'¯'¯

   A retrospective analysis based on data from the U.S.'¯Veterans'¯Health
   Administration determined that the drug as a treatment for COVID-19 --
   combined with'¯the antibiotic'¯azithromycin'¯or not --'¯not only may
   not help mitigate the virus's'¯effect, but it may alsoincrease overall
   mortality.'¯'¯

   In a reference to that study, the president declaredTuesday "it'¯was a
   Trump enemy statement."'¯'¯

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