State health secretary Pradeep Vyas in a recentcircular said the medicine will be given to doctors, nursesand medical staff involved in the treatment of COVID-19patients and suspects, as well as contacts of those testingpositive for the disease.
Members of the survey squads moving in the coronaviruscontainment zones and medical workers at hospitals in areaswhereCOVID-19 cases are found will also be given themedicine.
The medical workers will have to take the medicine forseven weeks while contacts of COVID-19 patients will have totake it for three weeks, the circular said, adding that thedrug should be given to medical workers with their consent.
The medicine should not be given to people below theage of 15, it said.
Those having heart ailments, high blood pressure anddiabetes should be given the medicine after expert medicaladvise, it added.
The circular also said that hydroxychloroquine shouldnot be given to those having retinopathy (an eye ailment) orhypersensitivity.
Those with blood-related ailments should be given thedrug after medical checkup, it said, adding that care shouldbe taken for any side-effects.
As per the protocol, there will be no change in theprecautions and care to be taken while in institutional orhome quarantine.
Medical workers will continue to wear personalprotective equipment (PPE), N-95 masks and triple layer maskswhile being on the medication, the circular added. MRGK GK