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The results of studies in Israel and Hong Kong suggest the antivirals could improve patient outcomes, but are likely to be more useful for older patients.
Some antiviral drugs have been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration after clinical trials.
They can be prescribed by GPs for suitable patients and are sold under brand names including Paxlovid and Lagevrio, which were analysed in the Israel and Hong Kong studies.
Antivirals are recommended for adults who do not require oxygen but have other risk factors or comorbidities, and are supposed to be taken within five days of symptoms arising.
The antivirals can be helpful for people at risk of severe illness or hospitalisation according to Doherty Institute director Sharon Lewin..
"Everyone who is high risk needs to have a plan with their GP for how they're going to access antivirals should they become positive," Professor Lewin said.
The Hong Kong study found both Paxlovid and Lagevrio appeared to have an impact on reducing the severity of disease and the likelihood of death, although Paxlovid appeared to be more effective.
The Israeli study analysed Paxlovid, and found it to be of more benefit to people over 65, with no significant impact on younger people.
The researchers noted the study could have been influenced by some "confounding clinical and social demographic characteristics".
Both pre-print studies were retrospective, observational studies using a sample size of between 3300 and 4000 patients.
The antivirals approved for use in Australia have limited evidence for their effectiveness however TGA head John Skerritt has previously said more accurate studies are likely to emerge in 2022.
Australia reported more than 28,000 COVID-19 cases on Saturday and 60 deaths.
Victoria also confirmed the end of its COVID-19 response unit, set up to oversee testing, contact tracing and isolation in the state in 2020.
Those responsibilities will return to the health department on July 1.
Victoria has entered its first winter without lockdown restrictions since the pandemic began.
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Air pollution is as bad for your health as a poor diet or smoking and costs Australia an estimated $16 billion a year.
Health advocates say despite the damage, the country is falling behind global standards to reduce the environmental threat.
"The health burden that results from air pollution is completely unacceptable," Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke says.
Dust, fumes, gas, smoke and mist in the air expose Australians to contaminants and exacerbate symptoms for people already impacted by lung disease or respiratory illness.
"We're losing thousands of lives a year to respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, and hospitalisation for children with asthma is on the rise," Mr Brooke said.
He has called on the government to develop a strategy informed by the World Health Organisation's existing guidelines, and to introduce policies to improve air quality.
Sunday is the United Nations' World Environment Day, aimed at increasing awareness and action for environmental protection.
The Lung Foundation says air pollution causes the same disease burden as more well-known health risks such as obesity and smoking, and could cause 3000 premature deaths a year.
Contributors to air pollution include the burning of fossil fuels, road traffic, construction, mining, bushfires, woodfires, and smoking.
In addition to respiratory diseases, air pollution is also linked to strokes, diabetes, newborn deaths, and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's.
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An Australian-based importer has been fined more than $10,000 after buying 13,500 COVID-19 rapid antigen tests from overseas.
The nation's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, has issued four fines to the person for unlawfully importing the RATs.
It alleges the tests weren't on the Australia Register of Therapeutic Goods. They were seized at the international border and won't be released into the Australian market.
The TGA has officially approved 47 types of rapid test kits for home use in Australia.
Self-testing kits for COVID-19 were green lit for Australian use in November last year but were in short supply in early 2022 as the first Omicron wave swept through the community.
Supply issues have alleviated in recent months as governments and the private industry secured extra tests and infections stablised.
Victoria reported more than 8400 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, including almost 5,600 confirmed via RATs. NSW announced nearly 6600 infections, more than 3600 of them RAT detections.
Australia's two most populous states also recorded 34 virus-related deaths.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:
Victoria: 8445 cases, 16 deaths, 509 in hospital with 29 in ICU
NSW: 6594 cases, 18 deaths, 1227 in hospital with 28 in ICU
© AAP 2022
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Josh Addo-Carr says he has dealt with the disappointment of not being selected for NSW, insisting he can regain his spot in the side later this year with good performances for Canterbury.
Addo-Carr left NSW coach Brad Fittler with food for thought after finishing with a double in the Bulldogs' 30-18 loss to Penrith on Friday.
Since leaving Melbourne the winger has continued to score tries - Friday's double took him to eight tries in 12 Bulldogs games - but that was not enough for Fittler to stick by him.
Daniel Tupou was the preferred option on the wing and for the first time since he made his debut for the Blues in 2018, Addo-Carr will be watching Wednesday's Origin opener from home.
"I thought I would be more rattled than I have been," he told AAP.
"That's footy and it's not my year, those other boys have the opportunity to put on the sky blue jersey and I know what that feels like.
"I can take it one of two ways; sulk or work harder. I'm going to try my hardest to get back in the team, I can't just sit there feeling sorry for myself.
"I've been in tougher situations before and I'm a supporter this year. I'm trying to play my part and do the best I can (for Canterbury).
"I've always prided myself on working hard and I'll do that to get back in the Blues side. My sole focus now is on the Bulldogs and all that (non-selection) is behind me."
Addo-Carr will have just two chances to press a claim for a NSW recall when the Bulldogs face Parramatta on Monday week before a game with fellow strugglers Wests Tigers on Sunday.
Canterbury's loss to Penrith was a microcosm of their season. They left themselves with a mountain to climb before showing green shoots in attack and then fading late.
Both interim coach Mick Potter and Addo-Carr have said they lack toughness in defence and when they get the ball back they undo their good work with errors.
"It comes down to resilience," Addo-Carr said.
"There's some things you can control, we're trying hard and competing but we're not playing smart.
"We need to play with intensity with and without the ball but I feel like we are getting there.
"We have to train like that and that's what pre-season is for, if you train fast and smart, you play that way.
"I have got full faith in where we are going and I feel like we are beginning to score more points."
© AAP 2022
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