The first oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 has been approved amid new research that shows the new Omicron strain appears to be milder, with fewer people requiring hospitalisation

Is this a break-through?

The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised the first oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19

This is the first oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19… so an alternative to vaccines in fact

it’s the first treatment of its kind

Made by Pfizer, its designed for ill people to take at home before they get sick enough to be hospitalised.

Dubbed PAX-LOVID it combines a new antiviral drug named and an older one.

Pfizer has recently released results that show the pill cuts the risk of hospitalisation or death by 89 percent when given to high-risk individuals within a few days of their first symptoms.

US President Joe Biden has previously labeled the treatment a “potentially powerful tool in the fight against the virus… including the Omicron variant”.

Will this be key for the omicron variant?

The new Omicron strain appears to be milder… with fewer people requiring hospitalisation

Early evidence suggests it may be a 30 to 70 percent reduction when compared to other variants, like Delta.

But despite this, experts remain concerned the sheer number of Omicron cases may overwhelm hospitals.

The study in Scotland has been tracking coronavirus, as well as the number of people ending up in hospital.

It says that if Omicron was as deadly as Delta, there would be around 47 people in hospital… but they currently have 15 patients.

More than 100-thousand cases have been reported in the UK in a 24 hour period for the first time

UK PM Boris Johnson used a video message to reassure Britts that they can go ahead with their Christmas plans

He has confirmed there will be no further restrictions imposed over the holiday period… His message was loud and clear.

Wednesday’s daily reported cases figure is the highest since mass testing began in May and June last year.

The PM did not rule out the possibility of enforcing new measures once the holiday season is over. 

So although Brits can go ahead with their Christmas plans, he is also urging everyone to exercise caution