However, unless HCQ is proven to work (at least in the overwhelming majority of cases); it is no substitute for the social distancing we're enduring now. That would be very risky, and highly unethical. Suppose it turns out that it only works for (say) 80% of the population. If we abandon social distancing and allow wide-spread infections; millions of people could die unnecessarily. The risk is too high to take that chance.
The clinical trials will produce preliminary results by August. That's at least a year sooner than a vaccine could be developed. If the trials prove HCQ works, then everything could return to normal right away.
We can’t wait another six months with stay at home orders. Doing what we are doing is going to kill many people by destroying our economy. Our healthcare system is being devastated. People are going to start dying of simple things like pneumonia, strep, abscessed teeth, etc etc. This will happen because they won’t seek treatment until it’s too late.