US: Airline pilots barred from taking drug Trump touts for virus

Airline pilots who take either of the 2 drugs president Donald Trump has touted for use against Covid-19 are disqualified from flying, US aviation regulators are warning. Trump has repeatedly said he’s optimistic about the prospects for 2 anti-malarial drugs, chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, as treatments for people with the new coronavirus, but the FAA says pilots should steer clear until more studies can be done. “There is currently no satisfactory scientific evidence that use of these medications decreases the severity of Covid-19,” said the director of the FAA’s Medical Specialties Division. The FAA closely monitors pilots’ health along with testing their flying proficiency. For years the 2 drugs have been on the agency’s lengthy list of substances it prohibits for cockpit crews. <br/>