The Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, Head of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), HE Lieutenant General Dr. Shaikh Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, today highlighted that the Kingdom of Bahrain was one of the first countries in the world to administer hydroxychloroquine to treat active COVID-19 cases.

· The drug is reported to have had a profound impact when used to treat the symptoms exhibited by active COVID-19 cases.

· The Kingdom had first used the drug on 26 February 2020, following the registration of its first case on 24 February 2020.

· The compound was administered in line with treatment regimens which have seen notable success in China and South Korea.

· Hydroxychloroquine is in a class of drugs used to prevent and treat malaria, discoid or systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.