UK Health Sec on virus surge, new COVID-19 antiviral

UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Friday lauded Britain's "world leading" antiviral programme.

The latest weapon in the country's armoury against COVID-19 is Paxlovid, manufactured by Pfizer.

The drug comes in the form of a pill, rather than a jab.

It was approved by Britain's medicines regulator on Friday.

It's the second antiviral pill to be approved by the regulator.

The development comes as Britain faces a surge in corovavirus cases due to the highly transmissible omicron variant.

Last week some 2.3 million people across the UK tested positive for COVID-19, Javid said.

IMAGE: AP