Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, stated Tuesday that the Covid-19 virus omicron strain appears less severe than other strains. However it also spreads faster which could result in more mutations.

Bourla stated that “I don’t believe it’s good news to see something spread quickly,” during an interview for The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit. Spreading fast is a sign that it will reach billions of people, and there may be another mutation. This is something you don’t want.”

Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical adviser, said that South African reports suggest that the problem of omicron might not be as grave as first thought. He also noted the need for more information to determine the extent of the threat posed.

According to the South African Medical Research Council’s Saturday release, most people who had been hospitalized with Covid during the two-week period at the Steve Biko/Tshwane District Hospital Complex (Gauteng Province), the epicenter for the country’s Omicron Eruption, were not required to receive supplemental oxygen. Many patients who were hospitalized for non-medical reasons, were eventually diagnosed with Covid.

Bourla warned that there is no way to make any conclusions about the current wave of South African infection. Only 5% of South Africans over 60 are HIV-positive, while younger persons usually have less severe cases. He said that HIV-positive people are common in South Africa, and this could lead to more serious Covid.

According to the CEO of Pfizer, he anticipates that the number confirmed cases will rise from the dozens to the millions in the coming weeks.

Bourla declared, “We will gain a better understanding of what this means for clinical manifestation.”

This is an ongoing story. Keep checking back for more updates.