Here we show that the combination of advanced molecular docking algorithms with molecular dynamics simulations can reliably identify existing known drugs with potential activity against the SARS-CoV-2 helicase. These candidates, if confirmed, could then be rapidly deployed to treat COVID-19 patients in clinical trials. The predictions of our computational studies have largely been validated by parallel experimental in vitro testing by other groups. Given the high speed with which potential COVID-19 drug candidates can be identified using computational methods, the approach is highly suited for rapidly identifying promising drugs not just for the current pandemic but for those outbreaks that will inevitably occur in the future.