Coronavirus Watch: What to know about Paxlovid

The omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 now accounts for two-thirds of cases in the United States. 

We wrote last month that most people will likely catch XBB.1.5 — whether it's their first COVID case or a reinfection. And as the variant spreads, Paxlovid is currently the best antiviral drug that is keeping people out of the hospital.

Reporter Karen Weintraub put together a primer on how Paxlovid works and who should get it. Some quick facts: 

• Paxlovid is prescription only and must be given within five days of the first symptoms to be effective.
• Most people report feeling better by the second or third day on the drug. 
• The primary side effect is a metallic taste in the mouth, which goes away. 
• Paxlovid can interact with some drugs (including blood thinners, some cancer drugs, sedatives and others), so talk to your doctor.

It's Monday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the USA TODAY Network. Here's what we're reading this week: 

• The COVID emergency declaration ends May 11, and that means health care costs associated with COVID (i.e., free tests, vaccines and treatment) will be shifted from the government back to individual Americans. Here's what to know.
• The bird flu outbreak – which is why your eggs are so expensive – has spilled over to mammals, which means there's potential for it to jump to humans. Read more here.
• Learning loss during COVID: Disruptions in learning during the pandemic has set kids back by about a third of a year, a recent study found. Here's what parents can do. 

Thanks for subscribing to the Coronavirus Watch newsletter.

— Rachel Aretakis, health editor