There are at least two modes of efficacy with HCQ, and possibly more. First, since it is an anti-inflammatory treatment for Lupus and RA, the drug has potent anti-inflammatory efficacy. Second, since it is a proven zinc ionophore it works to get zinc into infected cells where THE ZINC stops virus replication thus reducing the viral load so the patient's immune system can defeat the virus. The HCQ may also change the chemical environment around ACE2 receptor sites so that the virus is inhibited from entering cells it needs to replicate its RNA.
If the addition of doses of zinc is not accompanying the HCQ dosing then that efficacy is not being exploited and only mixed results will register. And perhaps that is the point, eh?