The state on Friday loosened restrictions on using a controversial malaria drug for COVID-19 patients, making it more readily available for people in nursing homes and other facilities.

The decision comes amid reports of nursing home residents dying from complications of the disease and after some doctors, politicians and pharmacists had called for a change in the state's rules.

Until Friday's order, doctors had been barred from prescribing hydroxychloroquine and some other drugs to treat COVID-19 outside of hospitals unless patients tested positive for the virus.

Officials have reported that 262 of 375 of the state's long-term care facilities have had at least one case of coronavirus, with reports of multiple deaths at some homes. On Thursday, the National Guard arrived at the New Jersey Veterans Home in Paramus to help its staff cope with an outbreak of the virus that has infected 40 veterans and killed 10. The same home has had nearly 30 other deaths over the last two weeks, but a lack of testing for Covid-19 means they might not be attributed to the disease.

The new regulations list a number of settings outside of hospitals "where the prescribing limitations" of the old order "do not apply," according to a statement released Friday evening by the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Doctors already had been prescribing hydroxychloroquine to patients in hospitals, where a positive test was not required by the state. The new regulations add post-acute care facilities, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, field hospitals and "other locations designated as emergency health care centers by the Commissioner of Health."

Coronavirus: Complete coverage on New Jersey cases and the state's response

Hey, Jersey: Don't toss those used surgical gloves and masks on the street | Kelly

Hydroxychloroquine had become a political flash point after President Donald Trump touted its use, saying last week that he'd consider taking it himself. Medical experts pointed out that the drug has not yet gone through scientific trials, which are underway and could take a couple of months to complete.

There have been small studies indicating the drug is helpful in treating COVID-19, and at least one that suggested it is not. A doctor who's treated 100 patients at St. Barnabas in Livingston said he's had success with the drug in combination with azithromycin, an antibiotic. Other doctors have said they've had some success using the drug when given early to patients — but also have had some cases where it did not help.

The changes on Friday were an amendment to a prior order that had been issued by the State Attorney General's Office to prevent hoarding some drugs. The state had said last week that doctors were prescribing hydroxychloroquine for themselves and family members who weren't sick.

The original order cited concerns about potential shortages of the drug, which is used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Elise Barry, the CEO of the New Jersey Pharmacists Association, recently said that pharmacists in nursing homes had been expressing concerns that residents who had become ill had to wait many days for test results before they were given hydroxychloroquine. She said that such delays could worsen the spread of the disease in the homes.

The issue, she said, had been brought up to the state Division of Consumer Affairs.

The division did not comment on the matter earlier in the week.

Doctors are still barred from using hydroxychloroquine to treat patients who have not tested positive for COVID-19 outside of hospitals, nursing homes and the other facilities mentioned in the new order.

Abbott Koloff is an investigative reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to his watchdog work that safeguards our communities and democracy, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: koloff@northjersey.com Twitter: @abbottkoloff