The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday endorsed the use of Pfizer Inc's oral Covid-19 antiviral treatment Paxlovid in high-risk patients after an analysis of trial data by the UN agency showed the therapy dramatically cut the risk of hospitalisation.

The recommendation comes as thousands of people die of Covid-19 every week, despite a waning global infection rate. Of existing Covid-19 treatments, Pfizer's Paxlovid is by far the most potent, the WHO said.

Other therapies include...