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Britain on Thursday approved the antiviral drug molnupiravir for treating the coronavirus, making it the first pill to be endorsed for Covid patients. The country’s regulatory body said that the antiviral pill, originally designed to fight the flu, was “safe and effective” in reducing the risk of hospitalization and death for those at increased risk of severe symptoms, according to a statement. The decision was made after a “rigorous review” of its “safety, quality and effectiveness,” according to the statement from the regulatory body, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. (Khan, 11/4)

Regulators in Britain granted approval to the experimental drug molnupiravir from U.S. pharmaceutical giant Merck on Thursday, marking the first authorization from a public health body for an oral antiviral treatment for covid-19 in adults. Experts say that if widely authorized, the medicine could have huge potential to help fight the coronavirus pandemic: Pills are easier to take, manufacture and store, making them particularly useful in lower- to middle-income countries with weaker infrastructure and limited vaccine supplies. (Francis and Parker, 11/4)

It is the world's first oral antiviral to be authorized anywhere for the treatment of Covid-19. The drug comes in capsule form and will be known as Lagevrio. The companies have sought US Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization for the drug, and the FDA said it will convene its Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee on November 30 to discuss molnupiravir's ability to treat mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in adults who are at high risk for severe disease, including hospitalization or death. (Gumbrecht, 11/4)

Coronavirus infections in England reached their highest level yet in October, based on a large study published before what may prove to be a difficult winter. While hospitalizations and deaths remained low, the React-1 study led by Imperial College London recorded the highest prevalence of cases since the research began in May 2020. Covid infections among study participants increased to 1.72%, or one in 58 people, more than double the level in the previous month’s report. The study arrives as the U.K. is stepping up efforts to tackle respiratory illnesses. Last month, the country started its largest ever flu shot drive to address concern over a spike in Covid cases coinciding with a resurgent flu. On Monday, National Health Service walk-in centers began offering Covid booster jabs without an appointment. (Leon, 11/4)

Germany’s disease control agency on Thursday reported the highest number of new coronavirus infections since the outbreak of the pandemic. The Robert Koch Institute, or RKI, said 33,949 new cases had been registered in the last 24 hours, up from 28,037 daily cases a week ago. The previous record was 33,777 new cases on Dec. 18, 2020. (Grieshaber, 11/4)

Chinese authorities are ring-fencing Beijing against growing Covid-19 outbreaks now permeating more than half the nation’s provinces, seeking to protect the capital as it gears up to host top political leaders next week and the Winter Olympics in less than 100 days. The country’s state-owned rail operator said on Wednesday they suspended ticket sales for trains departing from 123 stations in 23 locations that reported coronavirus infections. Previously, Beijing’s municipal government all but barred people visiting the city from areas reporting Covid cases. (11/4)

Puerto Rico’s governor said Wednesday that officials will start vaccinating children ages 5 to 11 this week against COVID-19, and that getting the vaccine will be required to attend school in person with few exceptions. Health Secretary Carlos Mellado said he anticipates that some 227,000 children will be vaccinated, with a goal to inoculate 95% of that population. (11/3)

The World Health Organization granted emergency authorization to a Covid-19 vaccine co-developed by India’s medical-research agency and local manufacturer Bharat Biotech International Ltd., ending a months-long wait that added to controversy around the homegrown shot. The WHO approved the vaccine’s use in people aged 18 and older on a two-dose schedule with four weeks between shots, according to a statement on Wednesday. Covaxin joins a range of WHO emergency-cleared shots from AstraZeneca Plc, China’s Sinopharm Group Co. and Sinovac Biotech Ltd., Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE , Johnson & Johnson and Moderna Inc. (Kay, 11/3)