HCQ forces zinc into the cells where zinc blocks the replication of the virus RNA. But there are three other ways HCQ helps. HCQ makes the cells less acidic, making it difficult for the virus to enter the cells. HCQ makes the "factories" in the cells less acidic, slowing down the assembly of the virus. And HCQ modifies the ACE2 receptor so the spike protein of the virus cannot bind to the cells.