Coronavirus Pandemic: Bay Area doctors receive COVID-19 drug, must decide who gets it

MARTINEZ, Calif. (KGO) -- Bay Area hospitals have received a few doses of the COVID-19 fighting drug Remdesivir to help with the novel coronavirus pandemic. The problem is physicians now must decide which patients to give it to.

The Foster City company, Gilead, donated the medicine to the country. The federal government then distributed the doses to seven states, including California. Officials did not say how they selected the states.

A spokesperson for the Contra Costa County Health Department, Carl Fisher, said the county received one course of the drug, enough for one patient. He says they sent it to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

RELATED: US study finds Gilead drug remdesivir works against coronavirus

A spokesperson at John Muir, Ben Drew, said they were honored to receive it, but said it is a challenge to decide the recipient. He said physicians are discussing it, and that they have ethics and clinical resource policies in place to help guide their decision making in cases like this where they have limited resources.

San Francisco County officials said they were looking into our questions about how they decide who gets the drug, but were not able to answer them at this time.

We did not hear back from Alameda, San Mateo or Santa Clara counties.

RELATED: Coronavirus: John Vipulis, recovered COVID-19 patient, talks about taking part in remdesivir trial

Here is a breakdown of what the counties received as of Friday, May 15. The number represents the number of doses. Officials say each patient needs a few doses.

Alameda 32

Contra Costa 8

Lake 0

Marin 0

Mendocino 0

Napa 0

San Francisco 28

San Mateo 13

Santa Clara 28

Santa Cruz 0

Solano 0

Sonoma 0

The state of California says they could consider holding a lottery to decide which patients will get it.

Remdesivir isn't known to save lives, but officials say it has been known to shave off four days of a patient's hospital stay.

RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:

• COVID-19 Help: Comprehensive list of resources, information
• INTERACTIVE TIMELINE: How close was CA to becoming a NY-level crisis?
• Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US, around the world
• What will it take to get a COVID-19 vaccine and how will it be made?
• How California's COVID-19 cases stack up against other hot spot states
• Everything you need to know about the Bay Area's shelter-in-place order
• Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area/
• List: Where can I get tested for COVID-19 in the Bay Area?
• COVID-19 Diaries: Personal stories of Bay Area residents during novel coronavirus pandemic
• Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic
• What does COVID-19 do to your body and why does it spread so easily?
• Stimulus calculator: How much money should you expect from coronavirus relief bill
• WATCH: 'Race & Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation' virtual town hall about COVID-19 impact on Asian American community
• WATCH: 'Race & Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation' virtual town hall about COVID-19 impact on African American community
• WATCH: 'Race & Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation' virtual town hall about COVID-19 impact on Latino community
• What Bay Area tenants need to know about rent payments, eviction amid COVID-19 outbreak
• Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
• Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US
• List of stores, companies closing due to coronavirus pandemic
• Canceled late fees, free services available amid COVID-19 crisis
• Here's how you can help during COVID-19 pandemic
• How to maintain learning during school closures
• No masks but here are 100+ products that may help protect you against novel coronavirus germs
• Here's a look at some of history's worst pandemics that have killed millions