Amid the sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 antiviral treatments and PCR testing to more high-risk individuals.
Effective immediately, anyone 18 and older that is immunocompromised, those who are 60 and over with fewer than three vaccine doses, and anyone 70 and over is eligible to receive a PCR molecular test and receive antiviral treatments, such as Paxlovid.
In addition, health care providers will also be able to determine if antiviral treatment is appropriate for patients based on individual circumstances, even if they do not belong to one of the high-risk groups.
The province said these measures will offer increased protection to the most vulnerable and ensure hospital capacity remains stable.
“By expanding access to antivirals and PCR testing, in addition to recently expanding eligibility for fourth doses, we are using every tool available to us to ensure Ontarians have the best protection available while we adapt to managing and living with COVID-19,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, in a news release.
Beginning on Tuesday, the province is also making it easier for eligible individuals with a prescription to access antiviral treatments by expanding dispensing locations to participating pharmacies across the province.
Moving forward, the Ontario government said it is working with its health care partners to prioritize groups that may be at an increased risk due to other health-related factors and barriers to health care, including First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals, as well as members of other racialized communities.
As of Monday, there were 1,090 people in Ontario who had been hospitalized with COVID-19, 184 of whom were in intensive care.