Drugs used to combat COVID-19 — what works and what doesn’t Kavita MajumdarApr 24, 2021, 17:19 IST Representative image.BCCL Covid management. Remdesivir has no impact on final mortality, and at best, can reduce the duration of the illness. Antibiotics do not work against viruses; they only work on bacterial infections. COVID-19 is caused by a virus. (Disclaimer: This should not be considered medical advice. Please check with your doctor before taking treatment.) As of 23 April, India has 25,52,940 active cases and has witnessed 189,549 deaths, and the air is grim, to say the least. With a near-collapse of the healthcare system, people are understandably grasping at straws to try anything to keep the virus at bay or, if infected, help alleviate the symptoms.