Mexico's health regulator has granted authorisation for emergency use of drugmaker Merck's Covid-19 pill Molnupiravir, Reuters quoted President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as saying.

The health regulator, COFEPRIS, was expected to soon also approve Pfizer's Paxlovid pill to treat Covid-19, Lopez Obrador added at a regular news conference.

Both medications were approved last month in the US.