Millions of people,聽including the president聽of the United States, have a video in which a doctor falsely claims there is a cure for the coronavirus, and it鈥檚 a medley starring hydroxychloroquine.
The video shows several doctors in white coats giving a press conference outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. It聽聽on social media聽聽from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and it was published by Breitbart, a conservative news site.
The July 27 event was organized by Tea Party Patriots, a conservative group backed by Republican donors, and attended by U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C.
In the video, members of a聽聽called America鈥檚 Frontline Doctors聽 several unproven conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic. One of the most inaccurate claims comes from Dr. Stella Immanuel, a Houston primary care physician and minister聽 of making bizarre medical claims, such as that is being used in medical treatments.
“This virus has a cure. It is called hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax,” Immanuel said. “I know you people want to talk about a mask. Hello? You don鈥檛 need [a] mask. There is a cure.”
As of July 27, nearly 150,000 Americans聽聽because of the coronavirus. Could those deaths have been prevented by a drug that鈥檚 used to treat lupus and arthritis?
No.听Immanuel鈥檚 statement is wrong on several points.
鈥楾his Virus Has a Cure鈥
There is no known cure for COVID-19.
聽the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no specific antiviral treatment for the virus. Supportive care, such as rest, fluids and fever relievers, can assuage symptoms.
“There is currently no licensed medication to cure COVID-19,”聽聽the World Health Organization.
The Cure Is ‘Hydroxychloroquine, Zinc and Zithromax鈥
In spite of Immanuel鈥檚 anecdotal evidence, hydroxychloroquine alone or in combination with other drugs is not a proven treatment (or cure) for COVID-19.
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. In mid-June, the FDA聽聽its emergency authorization for the use of hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
“It is no longer reasonable to believe that oral formulations of HCQ and CQ may be effective in treating COVID-19, nor is it reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits of these products outweigh their known and potential risks,” FDA Chief Scientist Denise M. Hinton wrote.
听补苍诲听聽have also stopped their hydroxychloroquine studies. Among the safety issues associated with treating COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine聽 heart rhythm problems, kidney injuries and liver problems.
While some studies have found that the drug could help alleviate symptoms associated with COVID-19,聽.听聽have been accepted into peer-reviewed journals. And large, randomized trials 鈥斅爐he gold standard for clinical trials 鈥斅燼re still needed to confirm the findings of studies conducted since the pandemic began.
In the video, Immanuel cited聽 that found chloroquine 鈥 not hydroxychloroquine 鈥 was “effective in inhibiting the infection and spread of SARS CoV,” the official name for severe acute respiratory syndrome. 聽the drug was not tested on humans, the authors wrote that more research was needed to make any conclusions, and SARS is different from COVID-19.
鈥榊ou Don’t Need a Mask鈥
Health officials advise everyone to wear a mask in public.
The reason has to do with how the coronavirus spreads. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they expel respiratory droplets containing the virus. Those droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.
Since some people infected with the coronavirus may exhibit no symptoms, public health officials say everyone should cover their face in public 鈥 even if they don’t feel sick.
“The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when cloth face coverings are used along with other preventive measures, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces,”聽聽the CDC.
Our Ruling
In a viral video, Immanuel said there is a cure for COVID-19, hydroxychloroquine can treat it, and people don鈥檛 need to wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus.
All of those claims are inaccurate. There is no known cure for COVID-19, hydroxychloroquine is not a proven treatment, and public health officials advise everyone to wear a face mask in public.
Immanuel鈥檚 statement is False.
