immune systems can begin to get access to the therapy, which reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 88% in clinical trials, the government said.
The arrival of a pill that can be taken at home at the first sign of symptoms is sparking optimism about the course of the pandemic, especially amid evidence that the omicron variant causes less severe disease.
But health experts warn emerging variants continue to pose a risk, and worry lower-income regions that struggled to get vaccines will be left behind again.
The U.K. said it has obtained more antivirals per person than any other country in Europe, with almost 5 million courses ordered so far.