The Food and Drug Administration has revised the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the COVID-19 oral antiviral pill Paxlovid to allow state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe it to eligible patients, with certain limitations to assure appropriate patient assessment and prescribing. Individual pharmacies will decide whether they are willing to offer prescription writing to the public. Check the pharmacy’s website or call ahead of time to see if your pharmacist is offering this service.  

Prescriptions continue to be available from doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.   

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 through a lab test or an at-home test, don’t delay: Contact a doctor, health clinic, or local pharmacy to see if a COVID-19 treatment may reduce your risk of developing severe symptoms. Paxlovid must be started within five days of your first symptoms. If seeking a prescription for Paxlovid from a pharmacist, be prepared to provide access to your health records from the last 12 months so that they can assess your kidney and liver function. Also bring a list of all prescription and non-prescription medication that you are taking so that the pharmacist can check for any drug interactions.  

In clinical tests, the COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid reduced rates of hospitalization and death by 88%. It needs to be started within 5 days of symptom onset. If you begin to feel ill, don’t delay – test right away, and ask a doctor or pharmacist if Paxlovid is the right treatment for you. You can find which pharmacies have the treatments on this DHS map and on this HHS map.   

Being up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines ensures you have the best protection possible against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. 

Dial 988 for Free and Confidential Behavioral Health Care and Support Available 24/7  

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced the state is ready for the recent transition to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The new calling code of 988 will allow people of all ages who are experiencing a crisis—whether that is thoughts of suicide, a mental health concern or substance use issue, or any other kind of emotional distress—to get help for themselves or a loved one by connecting them with a trained crisis counselor. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a free and confidential service that is available 24/7, and anyone can access the Lifeline by calling 988 (multiple languages available), texting a message to 988 (English only), or using the chat feature at 988lifeline.org (English only). 

Individuals who call 988 will reach the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is being renamed the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. While 988 will provide an easy-to-remember number, the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) will also remain in effect even with the transition. Individuals in Wisconsin who contact 988 will be routed to the Wisconsin Lifeline, the only National Suicide Prevention Lifeline affiliated call center in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Lifeline is funded by DHS and operated by Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin. For more information, including a list of frequently asked questions, visit the DHS website here. If you or someone you know is in imminent danger, please call 911. 

Individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive, or were exposed to someone with COVID-19 should continue to follow isolation and quarantine recommendations.  

To find the latest guidance for your community, visit COVID.gov. 

WI Exposure Notification is a smartphone app that uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. Once you activate the app, your phone exchanges anonymous signals with other phones that are near it for at least 15 minutes. If somebody who has the app tests positive for COVID-19, they can then send an anonymous alert using the app to those other phones. This will allow people who are close contacts to quickly get the care they need and avoid exposing others to the virus. 

The app is available for download from the Google Play Store or can be enabled in Settings on your iPhone. Remember, if you test positive for COVID-19, use the notification in the app to alert others who have been in close contact with you. 

For more information on the Wisconsin Exposure Notification App, please see our webpage. 

Most people who get COVID-19 have mild illness and can treat themselves at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications to decrease fever and discomfort. For people who are at higher risk of experiencing severe COVID-19 illness, medications called monoclonal antibodies and oral antivirals are available throughout the state. 

COVID-19 oral antivirals are pills taken by mouth at home after someone has tested positive for COVID-19. They help the body fight off the virus that causes COVID-19 and are proven to reduce serious symptoms that can lead to hospitalization and death. A prescription is required for these medications. These treatments need to start within five days of symptom onset, so it is important that people who develop symptoms of COVID-19 do not delay – they should test and seek treatment right away. Oral antiviral pills are available at nearly 600 pharmacies across the state. To get a prescription, you can visit a health care clinic, a community health center, walk-in clinic or a Test to Treat site, and for Paxlovid, you may be able to get a prescription from a pharmacist.  

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules that help the immune system recognize and respond more effectively to the virus. Monoclonal antibody treatment is given in a health care setting by intravenous (IV) injection. This treatment is also proven to reduce serious symptoms that can lead to hospitalization and death. There is also a monoclonal antibody medication, known as Evusheld, used for prevention of COVID-19 in people unlikely to produce an immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. Click here to learn more about available treatments.