Germany buys Pfizer's Covid pill amid surging Omicron cases

[BERLIN] Germany is buying 1 million packs of Pfizer's newly approved pill to treat Covid-19, securing supplies as infections from the fast-spreading Omicron variant rise rapidly.

The Paxlovid drug is "extremely promising" because it can help people who risk falling seriously ill, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told German news agency DPA. The country's health authorities reported a total of 10,443 Omicron cases as of Tuesday (Dec 28), a 43 per cent jump from the previous day.

Doctors will be looking for the Pfizer pill to fill a gap for high-risk patients, who until now have been treated with monoclonal antibody therapies. Germany expects first deliveries of the medication in January, according to DPA.

So far Omicron hasn't shown signs of making an overall impact on Germany's outbreak, as contagion rates continue to recede from record levels in late November.

On Tuesday, the country reported 215.6 cases per 100,000 people over the past 7 days, the lowest level since Nov 9. Germany, which is discussing making shots compulsory, aims to fully inoculate 80 per cent of the population by the end of January, compared with 71 per cent currently.

Thousands of people across Germany gathered on Monday (Dec 27) evening to protest the government's Covid rules and the prospect of a vaccine mandate. Stricter limits on private gatherings took effect on Tuesday, with as many as 10 vaccinated and recovered people allowed to meet. If unvaccinated people are involved, only 2 people from another household are allowed.

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