With reduced tensions on Ômicron, US stocks operate at a higher

With each passing day, the North American markets ease the tensions accumulated over the last few days due to the new variant of the coronavirus. The news about the effectiveness of vaccines also gives rise to an appetite for risk.

Around 12:20 pm, Brasília time, this Wednesday (8), the Dow Jones rose 0.10%, to 35,753 points, the S&P grew 0.11%, to 4,692 points, and the Nasdaq was up 0, 08%, to 15,698 points. This is the third day of the indexes gain.

Pfizer said today that a third dose of its Covid-19 vaccine can neutralize Ômicron, but that two immunizations is not as effective. British drugmaker GSK also announced that an antibody-based therapy for Covid-19 treatment it is developing with Vir Biotechnology was effective against all variant mutations.

At the same time, Botswana, one of the first countries in Africa to detect the variant, reported no increase in hospitalizations due to Ômicron. The country has already managed to fully vaccinate 71% of the population, or 1.3 million inhabitants.

The strain, which has undergone major mutations, is causing alarm among scientists and governments and many believe it will become prevalent because of its high transmissibility. It has already spread in at least 57 countries.

“Currently, we only have one person in the ICU (intensive care unit). But there is a trend that we notice, which is that those who become seriously ill are not vaccinated,” Health Minister Edwin Dikoloti said at a press conference.

The news added to relief over statements by Anthony Fauci, the US infectious disease authority, that preliminary evidence indicates that while Ômicron is likely to have a higher degree of transmissibility, it appears to be less severe.