Governor Kristi Noem announced Monday that South Dakota will be the first state with a comprehensive, statewide clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating and preventing COVID-19.
“Throughout last week, I communicated with White House officials to let them know that South Dakota’s medical community was ready to step up and lead the way on research efforts. I made direct requests to President Trump and Vice President Pence to supply us with enough hydroxychloroquine so that it could be made available for every hospitalized person the state may have as well as for those healthcare workers on the frontlines and those in the most vulnerable populations,” Noem said in a press release.
“Today, I’m pleased to report we have received the initial doses we need, and thanks to the leadership of Sanford Health and the assistance of the medical teams at Avera and Monument Health, we’re going to be the first state in the nation to do a comprehensive clinical trial to assess whether hydroxychloroquine can treat and perhaps even prevent COVID-19.”
Under the plan healthcare providers in the state will treat up to 100,000 people including outpatient and hospitalized patients with COVID-19, in addition to healthcare workers, and high-risk individuals who have been exposed to the virus.
"Now, this clinical trial and treatment for patients in the state is going to help us get through this together and we'll come out the other side stronger," Noem said at a press conference.