You don't get it.   Zinc is the antiviral agent, but it can't easily get into the body's cells.  An ionophore is a substance that helps metal ions penetrate cell walls.  So (and this is what the Japanese researchers are doing) it looks like we can substitute other zinc ionophores for HCQ, even ionophores like pyrithione or hinokitiol which are derived from plants.  The 'cure' is zinc, not HCQ.  HCQ is simply an enabling agent to get the zinc into the body. The controversy about HCQ is nonsense because nobody has bothered to explain that zinc is the actual active element of the regimen.  Everyone's fussing over something that can likely be switched out for an even more benign natural ingredient without changing the effectiveness of the zinc. Please do try to grasp that this is quite a positive and encouraging revelation that can go a long way toward ending the fake pandemic.