“We are pleased that South Africa is participating in the Public Health Emergency Solidarity Trial that has been initiated by the World Health Organisation to conduct a clinical trial to find effective treatment for Covid-19,” the department said in a statement.

Experts have identified treatment options including Remdesivir: a drug which was previously used in an Ebola trial; Lopinavir/ritonavir: a licensed treatment for HIV/Aids, Lopinavir/ritonavir with interferon beta-1a: used for multiple sclerosis; chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine: drugs used to treat malaria and rheumatology conditions respectively.

The health department said the South African Solidarity research team is led by Professors Helen Rees and Jeremy Nel, working 30 senior academics, researchers and clinicians from eight medical schools in the country.

These experts will commence the study in fourteen leading hospitals across the country.

In addition, the department says flu vaccines are understocked.

However, it says after engaging with the pharmaceutical industry “it became clear that the distribution of this vaccine has to be rationalised and prioritised. We have therefore taken a decision that health workers in the country will be given priority in receiving the flu vaccine.”

South Africa has recorded two deaths and 1280 cases of Covid-19.

eNCA