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Apparently the possible utility of chloroquine was discovered because SLE patients on it in China weren't getting Covid-19 during the outbreak [0].

[0]: https://www.jqknews.com/news/388543-The_novel_coronavirus_pn...

It is know to be a zinc ionophore so I would not call it random. That said, it is known to have some side effects. [1] My concern around its use is that it requires a prescription. People won't likely be using this until a doctor prescribes it. By the time a person has gone to a doctor, the virus has likely already replicated quite extensively. Zinc ionophores would be most beneficial if taken very early on after initial infection.

[1] - https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682318.html

Chloroquine was discovered effective against SARS-coronavirus following the 2003 outbreak.