On Mar. 23. 2023, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care system reported that the risk of long-term health problems, hospitalization and death after a COVID-19 infection diminishes among those who take the antiviral drug Paxlovid within five days after testing positive, according to an analysis of federal health data.

Paxlovid works to stop the virus that causes COVID-19 from multiplying, and reduces the amount of virus in the body. The medicationﾒs benefits last up to six months after infection, the study showed. The findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine.