Dr. Oz Talks Treatment for COVID-19, Plus: How He Thinks We’re Doing with Social Distancing

As the pandemic continues, Dr. Oz is updating “Extra's” Billy Bush on the latest news about COVID-19.

The doctor is currently broadcasting his show from home, and spoke with Billy via FaceTime.

“I've got to say, I'm glad we started early planning this out because it's not easy as it might seem from the outside world," he said of his home broadcasts. "We got a little bunker set up… It's effective, and we broadcast every day.”

Dr. Oz took on one of the hot topics surrounding treatment of the coronavirus, the use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, “Well, I learned a lot more that makes me even more hopeful. This small French pilot study showed you have a lot less virus in your body.”

He added, “I found some data from China, which by the way, they used hydroxychloroquine which is an old malaria drug routinely in many hospitals, and this data also showed with 20 patients they had reduction in symptoms and their lungs recover faster on CAT scans.”

Dr. Oz went on, “We have to have high quality data to decide if this is the right way to go, but I asked Vice President Pence today what he thought about using these drugs more widely and he's pleased to say that the FDA says, 'Go for it.'"

He did caution, “You have got to work with the doctor. This is really important — do not do it by yourself. There's an unfortunate case already of someone who mistook some ingredient.”

It should be noted that clinical trials are underway to determine the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19.

So how does Dr. Oz think Americans are doing with social distancing? “Well, I don't want to grade on a curve,” he said. “I think a lot of the country is getting an A… There's some young people that are getting Fs, but I'm seeing less and less of that.”

Billy asked how we can all be productive while we stay home. Dr. Oz answered, “Keep structure in your life… That's one of the ways to make sure you're not getting down during this time… The other thing I'm telling folks… is make yourself a better person by doing something big… Learn a language, pick up an instrument.”