COVID-19: FG Rules Out The Use Of Antiviral Drugs For Patients

The Federal Government of Nigeria has ruled out the use of Antiviral drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. This is based on the new recommendations and guidelines issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

While disclosing this during the Presidential Task Force meeting in Abuja, NCDC’s Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, stated that the decision to stop the use of antiviral drugs on COVID-19 Patients was based on the latest research on case management.

Chikwe noted that the use of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine would however still remain in use for clinical trials.

Further on the removal of the use of antiviral drugs on COVID-19 treatment, Chikwe said;

“We reached out to some antiviral drugs. One that was in our guidelines recently was the lopinavir/ritonavir combination, which is a combination of medicines we use for HIV. So, we look for whatever we have to try.

“As evidence emerges and science improves, then we have to start making hard choices. There have been quite a number of studies now that have shown that they don’t really improve the outcome of this illness, so we’ve withdrawn them from the guidelines of management.”