I might be the least informed person posting on this forum (lots of good stuff...thank y'all).

That said, if these malaria drugs and other combos are supposedly so promising and seem to work so well. Why is the news out of Italy still so bad? Are they not using those combos? Are they not working there? What am I missing?

Lately I've been very optimistic that in the next 7-10 days we will start making huge improvements in testing. And by then we will have much better insight into what drug combos work. So hopefully at that point, we can start testing anyone that wants it, and starting treatment for anyone that is positive, and everyone else can get back to business/life/school.

But I'm somewhat concerned that if it is that easy...how come Italy still seems to be so bad.

AgLiving06 said:

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I saw a deal yesterday that said they were not using the drugs because the were not approved by the WHO.

Every other country is and seeing positive results.

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While I am not sure when they started, they've been using chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in Italy at least 4 or so days.

I feel like it they are quarantining everyone, and not allowing anyone out of their house, they need to be trying everything, even if it's not approved by the WHO or CDC.

See page 9
https://epidemio.wiv-isp.be/ID/Documents/Covid19/COVID-19_InterimGuidelines_Treatment_ENG.pdf

Yes they are working

AgLiving06 said:

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I saw a deal yesterday that said they were not using the drugs because the were not approved by the WHO.

Every other country is and seeing positive results.

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Yes they are using them
See page 9
https://epidemio.wiv-isp.be/ID/Documents/Covid19/COVID-19_InterimGuidelines_Treatment_ENG.pdf

74Ag1 said:

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AgLiving06 said:

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I saw a deal yesterday that said they were not using the drugs because the were not approved by the WHO.

Every other country is and seeing positive results.

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Yes they are using them
See page 9
https://epidemio.wiv-isp.be/ID/Documents/Covid19/COVID-19_InterimGuidelines_Treatment_ENG.pdf

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Then why is the news there so bad?

Did they get started too late? Too many folks with underlying conditions where this doesn't work? Are they just not using these on a full scale basis?

Just trying to understand.

I think you have to start them early in the symptons

chris1515 said:

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74Ag1 said:

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AgLiving06 said:

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I saw a deal yesterday that said they were not using the drugs because the were not approved by the WHO.

Every other country is and seeing positive results.

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Yes they are using them
See page 9
https://epidemio.wiv-isp.be/ID/Documents/Covid19/COVID-19_InterimGuidelines_Treatment_ENG.pdf

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Then why is the news there so bad?

Did they get started too late? Too many folks with underlying conditions where this doesn't work? Are they just not using these on a full scale basis?

Just trying to understand.

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Don't have answers to all your questions
I would think they were overwhelmed and are just now getting their act together
Like us and testing. We got caught without a plan and all the FDA red tape slows things down. Now we have a potential game changer and the FDA is slowing things down while more people become infected and die.
FDA is too slow.

chris1515 said:

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74Ag1 said:

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AgLiving06 said:

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I saw a deal yesterday that said they were not using the drugs because the were not approved by the WHO.

Every other country is and seeing positive results.

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Yes they are using them
See page 9
https://epidemio.wiv-isp.be/ID/Documents/Covid19/COVID-19_InterimGuidelines_Treatment_ENG.pdf

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Then why is the news there so bad?

Did they get started too late? Too many folks with underlying conditions where this doesn't work? Are they just not using these on a full scale basis?

Just trying to understand.

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A lot of it was getting started late. The first paper received for preprint was February 18. By Feb 23, things were already starting to double in Italy.

Less than one week between cases skyrocketing and a preprint article isn't enough time to make a decision. Here we are, five weeks later, and virus cheerleaders still want more safety and efficacy studies to be done before using it.

chris1515 said:

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74Ag1 said:

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AgLiving06 said:

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I saw a deal yesterday that said they were not using the drugs because the were not approved by the WHO.

Every other country is and seeing positive results.

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Yes they are using them
See page 9
https://epidemio.wiv-isp.be/ID/Documents/Covid19/COVID-19_InterimGuidelines_Treatment_ENG.pdf

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Then why is the news there so bad?

Did they get started too late? Too many folks with underlying conditions where this doesn't work? Are they just not using these on a full scale basis?

Just trying to understand.

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It's a long sickness. Hospital care even in severe cases often isn't needed until about 7 days in, and the patient was usually infected days before they got sick. So everything that we see in the hospitals is the result of an infection that occured 10-14 days ago. Anything done to slow spread won't show results for 10-14 days.

Italy was overwhelmed well before word of this treatment got around, and it's going to take them a while to catch up. Saw am article the other day (don't recall where, BBC maybe?) That said hospital in Italy are basically turning away everyone over 70 at this point, to try to focus their resources on the patients with the best hope of recovery.

A promising new treatment is great, but when you're already that overwhelmed it's not going to offer anything close to immediate relief.