Hydroxychloroquine has been one of the most controversial treatments for COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. Now a new research review finds this inexpensive drug offers a safe treatment for many people infected with the virus. Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors around the world reported high success rates using an inexpensive treatment protocol of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and zinc, typically in combination with an antibiotic to treat secondary bacterial infections. HCQ is a zinc ionophore, which means it helps zinc get inside your cells where it can block viruses from replicating. The FDA  issued an emergency use authorization in March 2020 that allowed chloroquine phosphate (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) to be used to treat patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The order did not mention zinc and described using HCQ for its own antiviral properties. The order was based on initial experimental usage in hospitals that showed promising results.  That authorization was …