STEROID IS FIRST DRUG SHOWN TO PREVENT DEATHS FROM COVID-19

Treatment guidelines from the World Health Organization and many countries have cautioned against treating people with coronavirus with steroids, and some investigators were concerned about anecdotal reports of widespread steroid treatment. [...]the pattern of response - with a greater impact on severe COVID-19 and no effect on mild infections - matches the notion that a hyperactive immune response is more likely to be harmful in long-term, serious infections, says Anthony Fauci, head of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Dexamethasone, in contrast, is a medical staple found on pharmacy shelves worldwide and is available as a pill - a particular benefit as coronavirus infections continue to rise in countries with limited access to health care.