Japan has granted permission to Pfizer’s Covid-19 oral pills, the Japanese Health Minister said. Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto said that Pfizer’s Paxlovid pill gives good treatment options to high-risk patients, including elderly people and those with serious health issues. The approval comes as covid cases among elderly patients are increasing rapidly and overwhelming hospitals in Tokyo.

On Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that they plan to extend current restrictions in Tokyo and 12 other areas until 6th March. Japan depends on oral treatments to help decrease severe cases and deaths, and Kishida said the government had secured 2 million doses of Pfizer oral pills to achieve this goal.