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While most people who have tested positive for coronavirus experience mild flu-like symptoms such as fever and tiredness, the virus could also to trigger respiratory issues — an inflammatory response which could lead to pneumonia.

The majority of COVID-19 deaths occur in patients who are elderly or have existing medical conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.

In Canada, there are over 5,300 confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases and 59 deaths.

Currently, there are no health products that have been approved by Health Canada to treat or protect against COVID-19.

Canada is among several countries who are involved in the World Health Organization’s global clinical trial examining the effectiveness of four drugs and drug combinations against COVID-19.

Drugs being tested in the WHO’s Solidarity trial include: malaria drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine; remdesivir, which has been tested on Ebola patients; lopinavir/ritonavir, which has been used to treat HIV infections; and lopinavir/ritonavir combined with interferon-beta, which has been used to treat multiple sclerosis.

For Dr. Cooray, the purpose of a clinical trial involving medical cannabis would look at whether or not cannabis can reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.