
Chloroquine/ hydroxychloroquine prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the healthcare setting
What’s the COPCOV trial about?
Even with good infection control, people who work in healthcare settings are at higher risk of COVID-19 than other people.
The antiviral activity of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) may protect people exposed to COVID-19 from catching it.
Is taking HCQ like this safe?
Yes. HCQ has been used for decades to treat rheumatological disease and we know it’s safe in most people.* *people with certain medical conditions or taking specific medicines will be identified at screening and advised not to participate in the COPCOV trial.
Should I worry about side effects?
We expect most people taking HCQ in the COPCOV study will get either no side-effects or minor symptoms.
Could HCQ really be used to prevent COVID-19?
HCQ is not patented, easy and cheap to make and has a long shelf-life without refrigeration. If COPCOV finds it does protect from COVID-19 it could be widely used across the world.
If COPCOV finds that HCQ can prevent COVID-19 infection it could be used alongside any future vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.
UK Recruitment Count:
226
Current UK recruitment sites: (Recruitment in the UK has now stopped)
- Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
- Dudley Group NHS Trust
- Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust
- Rotherham, Doncaster And South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
- The Princess Alexandra NHS Trust
- Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust
For Trial Sites
Key study documents and information for sites running COPCOV in the UK