March 29, 2022
The so-called stealth Omicron variant is now the dominant COVID-19 pressure in america, in accordance with information from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Also called BA.2, the pressure comprised practically 55 p.c of home coronavirus circumstances for the week ending March 26.
The variant, which has been seen in increased numbers on the East Coast, was solely answerable for 35 p.c of circumstances in the course of the week ending in March 19 and 22 p.c every week earlier than, in accordance with the CDC’s COVID Information Tracker.
BA. 2 now accounts for greater than 70 p.c of circumstances 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 international locations, together with Denmark, the UK and India.
