Health Canada has approved the use of Pfizer's anti-viral treatment, Paxlovid. The prescription-only pill can be given to people 18 and older who have tested positive and are viewed as high risk of having severe outcomes.

There are very specific instructions from Health Canada on who the treatment can be given to, and when. In Pfizer's randomized study of over 380 patients, the pill proved to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 89% in the group that received the pill within three days of showing symptoms.

With thousands of people hospitalized across the country and over 1000 in ICUs, this treatment could significantly reduce the strain on the healthcare system. More information about the approval of the treatment is expected in a press conference today.