GOV. WALZ: 'WE KIND OF, SORT OF, MIGHT OF, POLITICIZED SOMETHING THAT SHOULD'VE, COULD'VE, WOULD'VE SAVED SOME LIVES.'

Back in August, in a strange yet eerily quiet reversal of direction, Minnesota became the second state to reject regulations which had effectively banned the use of the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine for use by COVID-19 patients.

According to Jon Miltimore, of Real Clear Politics, "The decision was the latest development in the weird saga of arguably the most divisive drug in modern history. The acrimony began in March after President Trump tweeted that hydroxychloroquine had the potential to be 'one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine' as a treatment for the coronavirus."

The President's tweet provoked immediate criticism from the MSMs, with some media outlets even going so far as to assert the president's ignorance were going to 'get people killed'.

However, in late July and early August many within the medical community emerged to challenge the view that hydroxychloroquine is ineffective in fighting and treating COVID. One such voice was Dr. Harvey A. Risch, who is a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, who said a full analysis of the data, research, and science suggests hydroxychloroquine may not only be effective, but might actually be the 'key to defeating the coronavirus'.

"There are now 53 studies that show positive results of hydroxychloroquine in COVID infections", said Steven Hatfill, a veteran virologist and adjunct assistant professor at the George Washington University Medical Center. "There are 14 global studies that show neutral or negative results—and 10 of them were of patients in very late stages of COVID-19, where no antiviral drug can be expected to have much effect."

Now, 4 months after the decision to lift the ban on the drugs use, it's still unclear why Mr. Walz changed his mind. Was it the research and the science, which really hadn't changed, or was it the results from November's election that prompted Governor Walz to reverse his March ruling, which ordered the Board of Pharmacists to instruct pharmacists to not issue hydroxychloroquine prescriptions unless the diagnosis was "appropriate"--which halted any off-label prescription requests. Many local lawmakers stated that they had no idea Walz had even reversed course.

The Wokeville Gazette reached out to Governor Walz for comment. "The Governor wants Minnesotans to know that he cares about them far above politics", said a representative speaking on behalf of the governor. "His primary concern has always been the health and safety of all Minnesotans; even those who still support Donald Trump. That being said, we also want to be very clear with you all as well: we kind of, sort of, might've politicized something that should've, could've, and would've saved some lives."

"The true lesson here is that it was science, and not Donald Trump, who won in the end", said Walz spokesperson. "Sure we may have lost a few lives along the way but the important thing to remember here is that after November's election, we were once again able to focus our energy and efforts on the data and research and what we found is that Hydroxychloroquine has not only been safe but has also been effective--all along--in treating COVID. And now, under President-elect Joe Biden's watch, people will have full access to this life-saving medicine and a vaccine that President-elect Biden was able to bring to the people in less than two months."

Dr. Scott Jensen, a Republican state senator who has been criticized by many on the left for his criticism of Governor Walz's approach. "I have practices medicine form more than 30 years", said Jensen. "pharmacists I've worked with for years have assured me they could not fill a hydroxychloroquine prescription for COVID because of the March executive order."

Jensen believes that hydroxychloroquine is terribly misunderstood by the public and he believes, in part, it's because it has been politicized and used as another means by which to attack and discredit President Trump. "Hydroxychloroquine is one of the most studied drugs in the history of mankind", said Jensen. "It's been on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines for decades. It's been in play since 1955, the year after I was born."