'Astonishingly reckless': Schumer blasts Trump's hydroxychloroquine use

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump for saying he is taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive medicine against the virus despite medical warnings about the use of the malaria drug.

"Please, citizens of America, don't take hydroxychloroquine as a prevention for COVID it is not - medical experts have said it is not.

Remember it is risky.

The FDA has said it has risks.

This is a medicine that experts say at best may not be effective in treating or preventing Covid-19 and at worst causes serious heart problems in patients with certain conditions," Schumer warned.

On Monday Trump volunteered the disclosure during a question-and-answer session with reporters at the White House as he met restaurant executives whose businesses are reeling from the impact of the virus.

"I'm taking hydroxychloroquine," Trump said.

"I've been taking it for the last week and a half.

A pill every day." Weeks ago, Trump had promoted the drug as a potential treatment based on a positive report about its use against the virus, but subsequent studies found that it was not helpful.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about its use.

Trump, 73, who is tested daily for the virus, said he had asked the White House physician if it was OK to take the drug, and the doctor told him: "Well, if you'd like it." In an April 24 statement, the FDA said it was "aware of reports of serious heart rhythm problems" in patients with COVID-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine or an older drug, chloroquine.