The easy-to-understand theory is that zinc is THE active agent, but zinc alone doesn’t enter the cell. Hydroxychloroquine opens a channel for the zinc to enter and do its job. The AZ/zPack keeps lethal bacteria at bay that spread in a weakened immune system.
Zinc to some extent is present in cells as there is a prior biological necessity. Ionophores alter the cellular membrane operation toward transporting additional metal ions from outside to inside the cell.
Excess Zinc is mostly concentrated in Vacuoles within a cell. The pH rises, especially in these cellular internal structures which engulf foreign materials. Altering the balance of internal conditions is one approach to deter a virus.
It is reasonable to supplement Zinc as part of the treatment as many patients are prone to deficiency with advancing age—+50 years.