An Italian study shows similar results from Ford study on HCQ – https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)30600-7/fulltext

“the use of hydroxycholoroquine + azithromycin was associated with a 66% reduction in risk of death as compared to controls; the analysis also suggested a larger effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in patients with less severe COVID-19 disease (PO2/FiO2 > 300, interaction p-value<.0001)”

Tired of beating a dead horse – there is almost 0 sense in talking to people who are against it now. Those on the fence the risk reward is asymmetric if you ask me. Not a dangerous drug given how many people have taken it and the history of the drug – perhaps it is not effective but given low cost and the potential upside not sure why the resistance. Obviously with ANY drug there are side effects more harmful to certain people therefore should always discuss this with your doctor.

Great news from Texas – they have identified a more effective inhibitor to suppress the replication of SARs-CoV-2 that has not been investigated https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.28.223784v1.full.pdf

“Our antiviral assays indicated that MPI5 and MPI8 performed much better than GC376

and 11a, two molecules that have been explored for COVID-19 preclinical and clinical tests. Due

to the urgent matter of COVID-19, we urge preclinical and clinical tests of both MPI5 and MPI8

in the treatment of COVID-19 and are actively exploring them.”

Learning from others is important in the age of information. Thailand was one of the earliest countries to get Covid-19 due to extensive tourism and regional location – yet they have done a remarkable job limiting deaths (1.75% fatality rate) – perhaps not the best at taking the spread to zero but that seems to be an infeasible goal. Their treatment plan was a cocktail of existing drugs including using Faviparavir (below from various articles) – by the way they also have universal healthcare:

“The doctors combined the anti-flu drug oseltamivir with lopinavir and ritonavir, anti-virals used to treat HIV”

“medications lopinavir and ritonavir with large doses of the flu drug oseltamivir”

“Thailand has been importing Favipiravir, mostly from Japan, to treat Covid-19 patients with moderate to severe symptoms since January. Pitchaya Dilokpattanamongkol, a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, said that Favipiravir is not officially recognised as the main drug to fight against Covid-19. But she touted its "outstanding efficacy" in helping treat the coronavirus while "producing less side effects".

"Many studies found that the drug has produced [limited] side-effects, which can occur in all medicines. There might be an increased risk of uric acid concentrations in the body … but it is in an acceptable level," Ms Pitchaya said.

But she warned that the Favipiravir is unsafe for pregnant woman because it directly affects the fetus in utero. Ms Pitchaya said that the best way to control Covid-19 would be a vaccine. “

“Favipiravir, the generic name for Avigan is approved for manufacture and sale in Japan as an influenza antiviral. It selectively inhibits the RNA polymerase of the influenza virus, an enzyme required for viral replication once human host cells are infected. COVID-19 also uses this enzyme to replicate and is classified into the same type of single-stranded RNA virus as influenza; hence, it is believed that Avigan may be effective in treating COVID-19.

Earlier this month, Japan media reports that the country is considering to distribute the influenza antiviral Avigan for free. The medicine developed by Japan’s Fujifilm was affirmed "clearly effective in treating coronavirus” by China.”

Thailand in Red – Japan in Green for perspective

The US is in the lead for deaths 1259

This day FL is leading the deaths at 257 – TX leads in confirmation 10K

The deaths in FL is located in where the confirmations occurring unlike in TX – Miami Dade 96/257 deaths

The four county view – Miami-Dade deaths are picking up and should be concerning. Other counties are steady.

Harris county hospitals are doing well given all the confirmations. 7 day MA death is highest its been but still way lower than other regions with the extent of confirmations (16). ICU beds seem to be ample.