Participants were asked to inhale 800 micrograms of budesonide twice a day for 14 days and were followed-up for 28 days.
The initial positive reports prompted the DHSC to advise GPs they could prescribe budesonide on a case-by-case basis but said it was not being recommended for routine use as more evidence was needed before it could be rolled out wider.
Eligible patients must have had onset of Covid-19 confirmed by PCR test within the past 14 days and have ongoing symptoms and be 65 years and over or 50-64 years with a comorbidity consistent with a long-term health condition from the flu list.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘These are promising results and we will wait for the experts at NICE to consider any revisions to the clinical guidelines.
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