COVID-19: Trump says his hydroxychloroquine regimen finishes in 'day or two'

US President Donald Trump has said that regimen of antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine that he is taking to ward off coronavirus will finish in next day or two.

Trump disclosed on Tuesday that he was taking drug despite medical warnings about potential serious side effects and questions about its effectiveness in preventing coronavirus.

"I think regimen finishes in a day or two," Trump told reporters at White House on Wednesday when asked how long he will continue to take antimalarial drug.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended president's taking of drug as a preventive measure against coronavirus pandemic.

"Hydroxychloroquine has been a drug that has been in use for 65 years for lupus, arthritis, and malaria. It has a very good safety profile. But as with any drug and as with any prescription, it should be given by a doctor to a patient in that context. So one should be taking this without a prescription from ir doctor," she said.

Henry Ford Hospital is doing a study on this w where 3,000 frontline workers will be taking hydroxychloroquine to look at its use as a prophylactic.

"I believe re is a few hundred or 190 workers in Tampa General Hospital. So, this is being used by some," she said in response to a question.

McEnany said re was a lot of apoplectic cover of hydroxychloroquine.

"You h Jimmy Kimmel saying President is, quote, 'trying to kill himself by taking it'. You h Joe Scarborough saying, quote, 'This will kill you'. Neil Cavuto saying, 'What have you got to lose? One thing you have to lose are lives'. And you h Chris Cuomo saying, ' President kws that hydroxychloroquine is t supported by science. He kws it has been flagged by his own people and he's using it'," she said.

"Well, Cuomo mocked President for this. And interestingly, I found this out just before coming here that Hydroxychloroquine, of course, is an FDA-approved medication with a long-proven track record for safety. And it turns out that Chris Cuomo took a less safe version of it called quinine, which FDA removed from market in 2006 because of its serious side effects, including death. So, really interesting to have that criticism of President," McEnany said.

re are several studies that have been brought up that President has actually mentioned, she ted.

re was a French study involving more than 1,000 patients that found that vast majority h "good clinical outcomes." And by vast majority, that was more than 90 per cent, she said.

n re was an Italian study of more than 65,000 patients that demonstrated only 20 tested positive of those who are taking it prophylactically. And a South Korea study, as well. So re are several studies, she said.

"And if you're someone out re - and this is a safe drug to use - and your doctor - importantly to underscore that - and your doctor prescribes it for your use as a prophylaxis or after coming into contact with COVID, n it's something you should take if it's prescribed by doctor and that's your personal medical choice," McEnany said.

Hydroxychloroquine sulfate was first synsised in 1946 and is in a class of medications historically used to treat and prevent malaria. It is approved by US Food and Drug ministration to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, childhood arthritis, and or autoimmune diseases.

drug is t FDA-approved for treatment of COVID-19 but it has been identified as a possible treatment for infection and US government has requested its immediate availability.

Trump has called hydroxychloroquine a "game-changer" drug in fight against coronavirus.

After Trump's repeated touting of hydroxychloroquine as a "game changer" cure for virus, FDA issued an visory warning that drug has t been "shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19."

Trump ministration has bought millions of doses of hydroxychloroquine and stockpiled it. India, which is one of major manufactures of drug, has sent several millions of doses to US as part of its humanitarian gesture.