As we begin our third week of shelter in place, I hope you are all doing well, having developed routines that are safe and working to keep you healthy. Also, we may be continuing the restrictions for much longer than three weeks. It will be important to keep our spirits up. We will need to exercise carefully, make sensible food choices if possible and maintain social connections with others, albeit remotely.

There are encouraging, preliminary data that the early and aggressive social distancing in areas such as the Bay Area and Seattle may be working to “flatten the curve” and reduce the rate on COVID-19 infection. Good work!

In response to a growing interest in the media, many of you have been asking about the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, in particular, wanting to receive a prescription “just in case”. The drug is being highly touted as an effective treatment for the COVID-19 illness. The FDA has given it emergency approval. The early studies are of very poor quality and some are contradictory. We will have to wait for better studies for a more definitive answer. However, we don’t have time to wait and hydroxychloroquine along with azithromycin are being used to treat COVID-19.

As expected there is a shortage of hydroxychloroquine. Last week, I attended an online doctor’s town hall meeting for John Muir Hospital. I was reassured that the hospital staff are doing an incredible job of preparing the hospital for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients, including stockpiling enough hydroxychloroquine to treat 300 patients which is reassuring. However, at this point, there is not enough of the medication for healthy people to receive the drug ahead of getting ill. Such a policy would worsen the shortage and those suffering from a COVID-19 infection would not have access to the treatment.

In the coming weeks, we may have better data to determine whether hydroxycholoroquine is, in fact, effective against COVID-19. Production is being ramped up in anticipation of greater usage. I hope that in the not too distant future we will have enough supplies for  everyone to have access to the drug. We are just not there yet.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.