Anti-inflammatory properties are probably the more important avenue to prevent severe disease. Severe Covid (to my understanding) is an abnormal immune response rather than an overwhelming infection.
The current first-line treatment for severe Covid is the steroid dexamathsone which has zero infection-fighting ability and is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug.
We give tetracycline (an antibiotic) to people with acne but oddly enough it likely works due to its anti-inflammatory properties rather than its bacteria killing ones.
Antivirals appear to be pretty crap overall for respiratory illnesses (eg Tamiflu, Remdesivir)
But you're absolutely right - a biiig scoop of salt is required when absorbing articles about the next big thing in medicine. As always, follow the money.
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