Medical authorities in China said they tested the antiviral drug favipiravir on 340 patients and found it reduces recovery time and improves lung condition of patients, according to the Guardian. Zhang Xinmin, director of China’s National Center for Biotechnology Development, said the favipiravir drug had produced positive outcomes during clinical trials in Wuhan and Shenzen. The report on Tuesday said 340 patients had taken part in the clinical trials. “It has a high degree of safety and is clearly effective in treatment,” Zhang told reporters. As of Wednesday, more than 200,000 people worldwide were reported to have contracted the coronavirus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with over 9,000 deaths.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 19, 2020 11:37 UTC