{"id":32264,"date":"2022-02-12T16:02:38","date_gmt":"2022-02-12T22:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/?p=32264"},"modified":"2022-02-12T16:02:38","modified_gmt":"2022-02-12T22:02:38","slug":"winter-covid-19-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.imsa.edu\/acronym\/2022\/02\/12\/winter-covid-19-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter COVID-19 Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the winter, there have been many new developments to the COVID-19 pandemic such as the introduction of a new Pfizer antiviral, new CDC guidelines, and government policies that hope to make testing equipment more available.<\/span><\/p>\n

FDA Approves New Antivirals<\/b><\/h3>\n

On December 22, 2021, the <\/span>FDA <\/span><\/a>approved Pfizer\u2019s oral antiviral Paxlovid for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 treatment, marking the first approved oral medication for mild to moderate COVID-19. <\/span><\/p>\n

The next day, the <\/span>FDA <\/span><\/a>approved Merck\u2019s Molnupiravir, another oral medication, for EUA as a treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19. Both of these medications have been shown to treat COVID-19 by preventing the virus from replicating. <\/span><\/p>\n

Paxlovid is available for people 12 and up, while Molnupiravir is only available for adults 18 and up, due to potential risks for growth in children. These treatments are also recommended for those who may be at an increased risk for developing severe COVID-19. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is recommended that both medications are both immediately started after diagnosis to properly inhibit the replication pathways. In addition, the FDA states that Molunpiravir is to be given when other treatments are unavailable or wouldn\u2019t be helpful, meaning that Paxlovid is likely to become the primary prescribed antiviral.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the context of COVID-19 treatment, this means that a new medication is available to those diagnosed with COVID-19 that can be taken at home via prescription, reducing the number of patients that have to visit a healthcare facility to receive treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New CDC COVID-19 Guidelines<\/b><\/h3>\n

On December 27, 2021, the <\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/span>announced an important update to the COVID-19 quarantine guidelines by shortening the time that someone was exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19 from 10 to 5 days. The specificities of the guidelines are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n