•Ivermectin is an inhibitor of the COVID-19 causative virus (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro. •A single treatment able to effect ~5000-fold reduction in virus at 48 h in cell culture. •Ivermectin is FDA-approved for parasitic infections, and therefore has a potential for repurposing. •Ivermectin is widely available, due to its inclusion on the WHO model list of essential medicines. Although several clinical