The treatment and management of COVID-19 integrates supportive care, including symptom relief, fluid therapy, and oxygen support, with a growing array of approved medications, which remain vital for the unvaccinated and immunocompromised despite vaccines reducing mortality. Most mild cases are managed with over-the-counter drugs like paracetamol or NSAIDs, fluids, and rest, with the U.S. CDC recommending isolation and masking as of April 2020. For severe cases, hospitalization often involves the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, strongly recommended since November 2020 for patients with low oxygen levels to reduce mortality, sometimes escalating to mechanical ventilation.

Effective antiviral medications, such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) and remdesivir, are approved for mild to moderate risk patients, significantly reducing the risk of serious illness or hospitalization, with the US notably offering a "Test to Treat" initiative for Paxlovid. While newer treatments like molnupiravir (approved by the UK in November 2021) have emerged, some initially promising drugs like hydroxychloroquine were later found ineffective or even harmful. Additionally, persistent symptoms known as "long COVID" present ongoing challenges for management and rehabilitation.