UK approves Merck pill, Danish PM faces mink cull inquiry: COVID-19 Daily Bulletin

The UK has approved a COVID-19 antiviral pill developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics for use as soon as possible after a person with a known risk factor has a positive test, and within five days of the onset of symptoms.
UK now becomes the first country to approve the treatment which, in trials, cut the risk of hospitalization or death by fifty percent.

Merck said it expected to produce 10m courses of the treatment by the end of the year, with fifty percent increase in the number in 2022.
Countries across Europe have been reporting rising numbers of coronavirus infections, prompting debate over whether to reintroduce restrictions and how to persuade more people to get vaccinated. #