"Taking Oral Antiviral Treatment While in Isolation"
Recent Infections Among Key Figures Including U.S. President Biden
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Albert Bourla, CEO of the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer, recently tested positive for COVID-19. Having received up to the fourth dose of Pfizer's vaccine, he reported experiencing very mild symptoms and stated that his condition is good.
On the 15th (local time), Pfizer announced Bourla's positive diagnosis through a statement on its website. In the statement, CEO Bourla expressed gratitude for having received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine up to the fourth dose and said, "Although I am experiencing very mild symptoms, my condition is good."
Currently, CEO Bourla has started taking Paxlovid, the oral COVID-19 treatment developed by his company. He stated, "I am in isolation and following all public health measures." He added, "I am confident in a quick recovery," and expressed deep thanks to Pfizer colleagues who have worked to provide vaccines and treatments not only to him but to people worldwide.
On the same day, NBC News reported that several prominent figures have recently contracted COVID-19. U.S. President Joe Biden, who had completed the fourth vaccine dose, tested positive on the 21st of last month and recovered after being prescribed Paxlovid. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and a leading authority on infectious diseases, also tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test in June.
Meanwhile, on the 11th, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decided to remove regulatory measures such as social distancing that had been recommended to curb the spread of COVID-19. This includes eliminating the '6 feet (1.82m) distancing' recommendation that had been in place since the early stages of the pandemic and limiting contact tracing to high-risk groups such as hospitals and nursing homes.
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