Gargling and Nasal Rinses to Reduce Oro- and Nasopharyngeal Viral Load in Patients With COVID-19

For this study, 48 patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 will be randomly assigned to four study groups: control, saline, chlorhexidine gluconate, and povidone-iodine. Each patient will be asked to gargle with a solution of either saline, chlorhexidine gluconate, or povidone-iodine or nothing (control group) as well as spray the same solution in their nose four times daily. Patients will then be tested for COVID-19 once daily in the evening for 7 days and viral loads will be measured.