WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and his administration are keeping up their out-sized promotion of an anti-malaria drug not yet officially approved for fighting the new coronavirus. But scientists say more testing is needed before it’s proven safe and effective against COVID-19. Dr. Patrice Harris is the president of the American Medical Association. She says she personally would not prescribe the drug for a coronavirus patient and pointed to the drug’s high risk of causing heart rhythm problems. Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro championed hydroxychloroquine in television interviews a day after the president publicly put his faith in the medication.
