March 29, 2022
The so-called stealth Omicron variant is now the dominant COVID-19 pressure in america, in response to information from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Also referred to as BA.2, the pressure comprised practically 55 p.c of home coronavirus instances for the week ending March 26.
The variant, which has been seen in greater numbers on the East Coast, was solely chargeable for 35 p.c of instances through the week ending in March 19 and 22 p.c per week earlier than, in response to the CDC’s COVID Information Tracker.
BA. 2 now accounts for greater than 70 p.c of instances within the Northeast.
The Omicron subvariant is extra contagious than the unique however doesn’t seem to trigger extra extreme illness. BA.2 spreads about 1.5 occasions quicker than the unique Omicron pressure, although it has not elevated hospitalizations or lowered vaccine effectiveness.
The pressure has been detected in excessive numbers all through a number of different nations, together with Denmark, the UK and India.
