Japan in talks to procure oral COVID-19 drug for mild symptoms

There are already cheap, safe and effective drugs to treat COVID-19 in the early stages, with efficacy up to around 80% depending on when the drugs are given.

While there's nothing inherently wrong with trying something else as well, like molnupiravir, why isn't the government promoting what already works? (they're allowing these other drugs, just not promoting them)

But we already know the answer to that.

@prionking

There are already cheap, safe and effective drugs to treat COVID-19 in the early stages, with efficacy up to around 80% depending on when the drugs are given.

And what drugs are those supposed to be? steroids, immunosuppressors, etc? they are being used routinely.

Hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin? they do not work against COVID, that is why they are not used. Try reading scientific reports and metanalysis, it is been months since they were proven so. The only people that still want to push these drugs are antivaccination groups

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-advises-against-use-ivermectin-prevention-treatment-covid-19-outside-randomised-clinical-trials

https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/antiviral-therapy/ivermectin/

I dont think it will make much of a difference in Japan. Anti-virals needs to be taken early, but with low access to testing, it would be extremely difficult for someone to be diagnosed with covid within 7 days of symptom onset. It is not uncommon for gov health offices to schedule PCRs well after a week after you initially call with symptoms.

And the priority seems to be protecting systems, not reducing suffering, or the incidence of long Covid. A country looking away from the long Covid issue is likely to find itself with a large disabled population as the pandemic progresses. Quick testing and early treatment is needed. Japan doesn't do early. Any chance of that changing?