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France bans hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 amid safety concerns

Wednesday, 27 May 2020 15:18

iStock [illustration]

France on Wednesday banned the use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19.

The French government is the first to take the step just days after the World Health Organisation (WHO) paused a large trial of the drug due to safety concerns.

Two French advisory bodies also warned that the drug - a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus - had shown to be potentially dangerous.

Recently, US President Donald Trump revealed taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure against COVID-19.

No vaccine or treatment has yet been approved to treat COVID-19, that has left more than 350,000 people dead globally.

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