Doctor Anthony Fauci stated Wednesday that early research suggests the omicron strain, although highly transmissible and can cause less severe illnesses than the lethal delta coronavirus.

Fauci, President stated that “all indications point towards a lower severity of the omicron than delta.” Joe BidenDuring a White House Press Briefing about Covid, he was the top advisor in health and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Fauci stated that although the data were encouraging, they are still preliminary in many ways.

He said that “we shouldn’t become complacent” because of the “extremely large volume” omicron patients, which could overwhelm certain health-care systems, even though the new variant results in fewer hospitalizations.

Fauci stated that severe diseases from any of the circulating viruses, including Omicron are much more likely to be contracted by those not vaccinated. So, eligible adults and children get vaccinated. Vaccinated people get boosts when they are eligible.

Fauci’s analysis emerged as Covid cases, which were fuelled by omicrons’ rapid spread. hit record highs in many nations, including the U.S.However, hospitalizations have been increasing but not at the same pace as those of new patients. New infections are often detected several days after hospitalization.

Fauci said “the pattern and disparity between cases and hospitalization strongly suggest that there will be a lower hospitalization-to-case ratio when the situation becomes more clear.”

Fauci claimed that more children are infected to omicron. He noted, however that Covid is a more common cause of hospitalization in children than Covid.

Fauci also stated that the Omicron variant exhibits “a degree immune evasion” due to antibodies. This includes those produced by current vaccines. He stated that booster shots can “bring down that degree of immunity to a level which is similar to what it was before.”

Fauci stated that boosters were crucial in ensuring the best approach to omicron.

His next point was to highlight recent data that had been collected in South Africa, England, and the U.S. which all suggested lower rates of death due to omicrons than with the other Covid waves.

Fauci stated that the South African study showed less admissions to intensive care units and fewer patients who needed supplemental oxygen, as well as shorter stays in hospitals for Omicron cases than those with previous waves of the virus.

An analysis by the UK Health Security AgencyFauci observed that hospital admissions for an Omicron Infection are about 40% less than the risk presented by the Delta variant.

Another study provided data conducted by Imperial College LondonFauci stated that Omicron has a significantly lower risk of being hospitalized than delta.