DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Public Health says the state is starting to receive shipments of new antiviral pills. Two new medications from Merck and Pfizer will help treat people with mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19. The pills aim to reduce the ability of the virus to spread through the body.

For now, there will be a very limited supply at select pharmacies and hospitals. The IDPH will determine how and when the anti-viral pills will be allocated to pharmacies and health care facilities.

It’s not known when the prescription drugs will be more widely available to the public.