If I interpret the data at https://www.mediterranee-infection.com/covid-19/ correctly, 0.5% is about one-third the mortality rate at two Marseille hospitals near Dr. Raoult's institute, for COVID-19 patients who did not receive HCQ-AZ.
Also, HCQ-AZ is said to reduce patient viral loads, which shortens the duration of illness and and reduces contagion. We'll have to wait for the full study to be published to get the details.
Reducing the contagion is a big deal. That makes the disease a lot less threatening.