COVID-19 Spreads in China, But Treatments Scarce in Pharmacies

Despite a surge in COVID-19 cases in China, with the positivity rate reaching 20.3% in the week of July 20-26, obtaining oral antiviral treatments from local pharmacies is proving challenging. This difficulty stems from outdated regulations established during the initial pandemic phase that restricted drug distribution, which have not been clearly rescinded or updated.

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The COVID-19 positivity rate was 20.3% in the week of July 20-26, up 4 percentage points from the previous week.

While China has approved several COVID-19 oral treatments, including three with full approval, many pharmacies, particularly in Beijing, are hesitant to stock them. They fear administrative penalties due to the lack of clear guidelines on lifting previous sales restrictions. Consequently, patients are often directed to hospital prescriptions or online platforms like JD.com and Meituan, where purchases are recorded. However, these online orders can take one to five days for delivery, potentially delaying crucial early treatment.

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The COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs are not sold in regular pharmacies in most areas, including Beijing.

Experts stress the importance of administering antiviral drugs within 72 hours of symptom onset, especially for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, to mitigate the risk of severe illness. The current situation, where readily available treatments are difficult to access through conventional channels, poses a significant challenge to public health efforts in managing the ongoing spread of the virus.

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For high-risk groups such as the elderly and those with underlying conditions, taking antiviral drugs within 72 hours of infection can reduce the risk of severe illness.