Early intervention in COVID-19 may reduce
Impact on underlying conditions1-3
Risk of severe illness4-7 and long COVID8,9
Risk of transmission and prevent outbreaks10-12
Delaying response for COVID-19 increases the risk of hospitalization and mortality12,13 and is associated with
12x
Higher risk
of severe
COVID-194
4x
Higher risk of ICU admissions in COVID-19 hospitalized patients5
Antiviral intervention is most effective early in the viral replication cycle14-16
Early intervention may reduce the clinical complications associated with COVID-194,5,12,13
Early intervention may prevent outbreaks and reduce the impact of COVID-19 in closed settings48
Early intervention in respiratory infections may preserve quality of life, improve work productivity, and protect vulnerable populations52,53
Abbreviations: COVID, coronavirus disease; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; ED, emergency department; HCWs, healthcare workers; ICU, intensive care unit; LTCF, long-term care facility; OAV, oral antiviral; PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; US, United States.
References: 1. Chu WM, et al. EClinicalMedicine. 2024;72:102620; 2. Wang W, et al. BMC Med. 2024;22(1):117; 3. Cai H, et al. Antiviral Res. 2023;216:105659; 4. Wu J, et al. J Intern Med. 2020;288(1):128-138; 5. Platzer M, et al. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2024;136(15-16):458-464; 6. Hammond J, et al. N Engl J Med. 2022;386(15):1397-1408; 7. Colaneri M, et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2024;149:107265; 8. Jiang J, et al. J Infect. 2024;89(2):106190; 9. Drysdale M, et al. Infection. 2025;doi:10.1007/s15010-025-02505-z; 10. Lin SN, et al. Infect Dis Poverty. 2021;10(1):53; 11. Bai Y, et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2024;30(2):262-269; 12. Matrajt L, et al. BMC Infect Dis. 2022;22(1):683; 13. Van Heer C, et al. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2023;41:100917; 14. Gonçalves A, et al. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol. 2020;9(9):509-514; 15. Lee N, et al. J Infect Dis. 2009;200(4):492-500; 16. Puhach O, et al. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2023;21(3):147-161; 17. Zaaraoui H, et al. PLoS Comput Biol. 2024;20(12)e1012573; 18. Germann TC, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006;103(15):5935-5940; 19. Ikematsu H, et al. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(4):309-320; 20. Moslehi N, et al. J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(9):5014-5023; 21. Basoulis D, et al. Viruses. 2023;15(7):1515; 22. Marsters CM, et al. Brain. 2024;147(7):2542-2551; 23. Kubota T, et al. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2021;200:106349; 24. Conway SE, et al. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2022;63:103946; 25. Di Iorio M, et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2022;55:152025; 26. Hadidchi R, et al. EBioMedicine. 2025;116:105778; 27. Del Sole F, et al. Eur J Clin Invest. 2020;50(10):e13378; 28. Kwok WC, et al. Respir Res. 2023;24(1):53; 29. Kwok WC, et al. Respirology. 2024;29(3):209-216; 30. Kwok WC, et al. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):13881; 31. Peng Y-L, et al. Cancers (Basel). 2024;16(2):304; 32. Zou X, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;19(3):597-603; 33. Marjot T, et al. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;18(5):348-364; 34. Jdiaa SS, et al. J Nephrol. 2022;35(1):69-85; 35. Xie Y, et al. Nat Med. 2022;28(3):583-590; 36. Xie Y, et al. BMJ. 2022;376:e068993; 37. Srivastava S, et al. World J Meta-Anal. 2021;9(3):220-233; 38. Chuang M-H, et al. BMC Med. 2024;22(1):360; 39. Lu JY, et al. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):31451; 40. Lebbe A, et al. Biomedicines. 2024;12(9):2065; 41. Chourasia P, et al. J Clin Med. 2023;12(3):1159; 42. Chen I-W, et al. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):10924; 43. Fang Z, et al. JAMA. 2024;332(1)5-6; 44. Xu E, et al. Nat Med. 2022;28(11):2406-2415; 45. Daines L, et al. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2022;28(3):174-179; 46. Gerayeli FV, et al. Eur Respir J. 2024;64(3):2302302; 47. Elmunzer BJ, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024;22(5):1098-1107.e3; 48. Ma B H-M, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(4):e2310887; 49. Klompas M, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2024;177(8):1078-1088; 50. Ramos-Rincon J-M, et al. Gerontology. 2023;69(6):671-683; 51. International reports on COVID-19 and long-term care. https://ltccovid.org/international-reports-on-covid-19-and-long-term-care/ Accessed September 8, 2025; 52. Gallop K, et al. J Health Econ Outcomes Res. 2024;11(2):20-28; 53. Di Fusco M, et al. J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2023;7(1):77; 54. Fisman D, et al. Diseases. 2024;12(12):331; 55. Zumofen M-H B, et al. Pharmacoeconomics. 2023;41(3):253-273; 56. Kuster SP, et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021;42(3):268-273; 57. Johal A, et al. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025;12(Suppl 1):ofae631; 58. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-care/underlying-conditions.html. Accessed September 8, 2025; 59. Gottlieb RL, et al. N Engl J Med. 2022;386(4):305-315; 60. Hsu WH, et al. Pneumonia(Nathan). 2025;17(1):12.