The research, led by a team of scientists at Oxford University, shows the decks of methods own a familiar steroid that's Bean in used for 60 years, can be remarkably effective.

The findings are based on trials involving some 6000 patients across the UK The drug cuts the risk of death by 1/3 for patients on ventilators on by 1/5 for those requiring oxygen.

Our medical correspondent, Fergus Watch, has the story for those laid low by Cove in 19 for the very sickest hospital patients, at last a drug that contain the odds in their favor.

6000 NHS covert patients were part of the trial on the results were so overwhelmingly positive they were rushed out days after the study was completed.

It found that Dexia methods own saves one life for every eight patients on a ventilator and one life saved for every 25 patients on oxygen.

If it had been used from the outset of the pandemic, it's thought it could have saved 4 to 5000 lives in the UK Catherine Milbank from Buckingham shares spent 12 days on a ventilator with Cove in 19.

She received decks a Method Zone, after her husband, Paul, gave consent over the phone for her to take part in the trial.

When someone tells you that your wife's right hanging on the edge of something that could going away and you know that there's current proven drugs that are already in the in the medical industry already that are prescribed to people when you know that they are around and there's a chance like more help you, you grab it without trying.

These things were not researchers.

Us.

No one is going to get the word finding out the right drugs help the patent epic this happening and still going on this we're coming through it, but I'm just eternally grateful and will be for the rest of my life.

Dexia Methods own has been around for decades.

A steroid, it's widely used for arthritis, asthma and other conditions.

This is a genuine breakthrough in the treatment of coded 19 decks, a method so either in tablet or injectable form is available in every hospital pharmacy.

The treatment costs around £5 on the NHS on will be even cheaper in developing countries, so this drug has the potential to save lives across the world.

We've been on a huge search for treatments that actually will improve survival for patients with Covic.

This is the first to drug.

Not only is this the first drug that improved survival but available worldwide immediately and is affordable, that's fantastic news for patients.

The drug helps stop the immune system from overreacting to Cove it It's not a cure, but it will help more of the sickest patients to overcome this disease.

Fergus Walsh, BBC News Well, the latest figures from the Department of Health show that in the past 24 hour period, 233 more deaths linked a Corona virus were recorded on.

That brings the total of just under 42,000 across the UK on that includes hospitals and care homes and the wider community.

The graph of Kobe 19 deaths since the middle of March chose that downward trend, with the current seven day average at 155.

So let's talk to our medical correspondent Fergus Walsh, whose report we saw there on the year.

This new treatment.

Well, I say new treatment.

It's a familiar drug drugs, isn't it?

I'm just wondering, given how familiar doctors are with it.

What is its potential now?

I think this is really significant you and really wonderful news.

This drug, Kant's the risk of death in the sickest patients on ventilators by 1/3.

That's massive.

Now it needed a huge trial 6000 Corona virus hospital patients for those benefits to emerge.

And that all happened here in the UK Ah, 175 hospitals were involved in is one of the strengths of having a cohesive national health service.

Now it's frankly, a bit of a surprise that the first drug proven to save lives with Cove in 19 is not some shiny high tech experimental treatment that would cost thousands on only be available in rich countries.

It's an old, cheapest chips steroid that's used all over the world.

Some caveats doesn't stop people getting Corona virus.

It doesn't help early on in the disease.

It's only for the sicker patients, but wow, for them, it is progress, and from now on every hospital patient with Corona virus on oxygen or on a ventilator will be offered dexamethasone.

So for them and their families, that offers real hope.

Fergus.

Many Thanks Once Again, Thanks for medical correspondent.