FDA approves two oral antivirals

Over the past week, the FDA has authorized two oral antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19 in certain patients.

Pfizer’s Paxlovid — nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use — is authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients, 12 years of age and older weighing at least 88 pounds with positive results of direct SARSCoV-2 testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, according to the FDA’s website.

Merck’s molnupiravir is authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate, according to the website.

Both treatments are available by prescription only and should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of symptom onset.

As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record publishes updates released by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.

The Arkansas Department of Health is no longer reporting confirmed and probable cases separately. The following stats were posted Thursday on the Health Department’s website:

• 551,394 cumulative cases, up 4,146 from Thursday.

• 4384617 PCR test reports, up 19,884 from Thursday.

• 9.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, up 0.1 from Thursday.

• 10,088 active cases, up 1,494 from Thursday.

• 1,817 active juvenile cases, down 25 from Thursday.

• 532,046 recoveries, up 2,590 from Thursday.

• 4,448,220 vaccine doses received, no change from Thursday.

• 3,666,997 doses given, up 14,308 from Thursday.

• 482 hospitalizations, down 13 from Thursday.

• 118 cases on ventilators, up 11 from Thursday.

• 193 ICU patients, up two from Thursday.

• 9,081 deaths, up 61 from Thursday.

• 2,295 nursing home deaths, up five from Thursday.

• 16,621 cumulative cases in Garland County, up 75 from Thursday.

• 171,111 PCR and antigen test reports, up 986 from Thursday.

• 10.09% cumulative PCR infection rate, down 0.01 from Thursday.

• 182 active cases in Garland County, up six from Thursday.

• 16,019 recoveries in Garland County, up 62 from Thursday.

• 420 deaths, up seven from Thursday.