Health Services warns public against using chloroquine as COVID-19 preventive medicine

Chloroquine, a drug used to prevent and treat malaria, is ineffective as a preventive medicine for COVID-19, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe informed the public in a special statement issued today.

According to him, the drug may be administered to COVID-19 patients in hospitals under the supervision of a medical professional but is not to be used as a preventive measure. Dr. Jasinghe thus instructed the public to not go in search of chloroquine, and to instead follow medical advice given to them.