(Bloomberg). Germany will buy 1 million packs Pfizer Inc (NYSE:).’s newly approved pill to treat Covid-19, securing supplies as infections from the fast-spreading omicron variant rise rapidly.

The Paxlovid drug is “extremely promising” because it can help people who risk falling seriously ill, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told German news agency DPA. The country’s health authorities reported a total of 10,443 omicron cases as of Tuesday, a 43% jump from the previous day.

Pfizer will soon be available for patients at high risk. Patients who are currently being treated with monoclonal anti-body therapies have had to wait until the Pfizer drug is made available. DPA reports that Germany will receive the first doses of the drug in January.

So far omicron hasn’t shown signs of making an overall impact on Germany’s outbreak, as contagion rates continue to recede from record levels in late November. 

Monday’s report showed that the nation had 215.6 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants in the seven-day period ending Tuesday. It was the lowest figure since Nov. 9. Germany is currently discussing mandatory shots and aims to inoculate all its citizens by January. Currently, 71% of people are vaccinated.

Thousands of people across Germany gathered on Monday evening to protest the government’s Covid rules and the prospect of a vaccine mandate. On Tuesday, stricter restrictions were put in place on private gatherings. Only 10 people who have been vaccinated or are recovering allowed to attend. Unvaccinated individuals are not allowed to attend private gatherings. Only two members of another household can be involved.

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