Fig. 1.

1A: Viral shedding diagram from patients 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7. All five patients performed the protocol (4 cycles/5 min each) on days 1, 2, 3 and 4 measuring the effect of treatment on days 2, 3, 4 and 5. A new swab on day 10 confirmed short term negativity.

1B: Viral shedding diagram from patient 4. The patient, who exhibited a low viral load (35 CT), was asked to perform a self-swabbing procedure before starting the protocol to test his/her ability to carry on autonomously the procedure on day 2. A new swab on day 10 confirmed short term negativity.

1C: Viral shedding diagram from patient 1. The patient with an official moderate viral load (27 CT) was asked to perform self-swabbing before starting the protocol, to test his/her ability to carry on autonomously the procedure on days 3 and 4. A new swab on day 11 confirmed short-term negativity.

1D: Viral shedding diagram from patient 8. This patient did not complete the cycle's protocol due to allergies and intolerance to a prolonged exposure to humidified steam: on day 1 this patient followed 11 min treatment divided in three cycle 5, 3 and 3 min respectively. On day 2 followed 13 min treatment divided in three cycles 5, 5 and 3 min respectively; on day 3, two cycles 5 and 4 min; on day 4, three cycles, 3 min each. On day 5 had a new low viral load positive swab and on day 10 she tested negative.

1E: Viral shedding diagram from patient 9. Subject performed the protocol for overall 11 days together with drug treatment based on hydroxychlorochine and azytromicine. She resulted in all positive swabs. She tested negative after 15 and 17 days.

1F: Viral shedding diagram in patient 10. This patient, who exhibited a high viral load (21 CT) was asked to perform a self-swabbing procedure (on day 2 and day 3) before starting the protocol to test his/her ability to carry on autonomously the procedure on day 3 and 4. This patient performed the protocol for overall 7 days testing negative since the 5th day of treatment.