HaEmek Medical Center ^{Medical Center}

19 COVID (Coronavirus disease 2019 ) is a deadly viral disease that has been spreading around the world for several months, and is caused by a CORON/A family virus (COVID-19). Following IN-VITRO evidence of the antiviral effect of CHLOROQUINE in CORON/A viruses, this drug has been used empirically for COVID-19 patients and is currently recommended in Israel for the treatment of intermediate and severity disease.

The mechanism of action of chloroquine is in part by inhibiting the virus distribution, and changing the intracellular acidity, the virus distribution site. The intracellular chloroquine concentration is determined by a pump called PGP (permeability glycoprotein) that removes the drug from the cell and is activated by the drug. In the treatment of malaria, the benefit of low dosage of the drug has been shown to be effective due to the fact that the intracellular concentration of the drug is probably higher, and therefore the logic to examine this issue in COVID-19 treatment.

The purpose of this study is to test whether a low dose of Chloroquine will reduce the duration of the viral shedding and prevent the disease from worsening.