Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – There is good news regarding the Omicron coronavirus variant from Hong Kong and Australia. A group of scientists managed to isolate a variant of the virus found in South Africa and Botswana.
Citing the Straits Times, a group of Hong Kong scientists succeeded in isolating the Omicron variant for medical samples. This is useful for further research to determine the exact immune response to the virus.
In an official statement, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), this isolation is the first in Asia. The research team is currently expanding their observations of the virus to assess its transmissibility, immune evasion capabilities, and augment its pathogenicity.
“We recognized the serious threat of the variant and acted immediately,” said Professor Kwok Yung Yuen, who led the research effort, in a statement. “Isolating the variant is the first step in the study,” he added.
The next good news came from Australia. Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said that until now, all of the Omicron Covid infections have occurred with mild symptoms and are not lethal.
That adds to the good news regarding the countermeasures of the omicron variant.
Previously, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said he was optimistic that the pill for the treatment of Covid-19 that his company was currently developing was able to fight infections with the Omicron variant.
This claim is not without reason. Bourla said the drug, named Paxlovid, was developed with several possible viral mutations.
“So that gives me a very high level of confidence that the treatment will not be affected, our oral medication will not be affected by this virus,” he said.
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