Bahrain is one of the first countries in the world to administer hydroxychloroquine to treat active COVID-19 cases,  the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health has highlighted.

 

The drug is reported to have had a profound impact when used to treat the symptoms exhibited by active COVID-19 cases, said Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, who is also the head of National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), said a Bahrain News Agency report.

 

The kingdom had first used the drug on February 26, following the registration of its first case on February 24. The compound was administered in line with treatment regimens which have seen notable success in China and South Korea, he said.

 

Hydroxychloroquine is in a class of drugs used to prevent and treat malaria, discoid or systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.