NORTHERN Mindanao Medical Center liaison officer Dr. Bernard Rocha Wednesday, December 9, 2020, said there are no approved therapeutic claims that virgin coconut oil (VCO) can be used as a treatment for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

On December 3, the Department of Science and Technology announced that their community-based research in Laguna has shown that VCO, when given as a supplement to Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms, prevents the progression of the disease.

Whether VCO can affect Covid-positive patients, Rocha said it is still under investigation.

"Is there anything bad kung mo-take nga naa kay Covid-19? I do not see anything detrimental regarding sa pag take og virgin coconut oil," Rocha said.

"Pwede ba maapektuhan ang Covid-19? I do not know. Pero sa karon, based sa mga datos, dili. It's still under investigation," he added.

Rocha also mentioned the conditional recommendation of the World Health Organization against the use of remdesivir in hospitalized patients, regardless of disease severity.

He said that while remdesivir is not the treatment for Covid-19, it can shorten the course of Covid-19 of those who were already infected by the virus.

"What it does is to shorten the course sa mga natapdan og Covid-19. Dili sya makatambal gyud," Rocha said.