New Omicron Sub-Variant Spreading Faster in the U.S

Omicron subvariant, known as BA.2, is spreading 30 percent more easily than BA.1, say experts.

New strain of Omicron variant is spreading much faster than the previously known variants in the US, reveals a new study.

An Omicron subvariant, known as BA.2, which appears to spread 30 percent more easily, has made up 3.9 percent of all infections, up from 1.6 percent in the week ending January 29, fueling worries the country may not return to normal as planned.

WHO Says Omicron Sibling BA.2 Remains Variant of Concern
In European and Asian countries existence of the BA.2 subtype of the Omicron variant should continue to be considered a variant of concern.

‘Get vaccinated, wear masks, keep social distance, as experts say that the new Omicron subvariant, known as BA.2, may spread faster than BA.1.’

According to a report by National Public Radio, BA.2 is found to have quickly overtaken the original Omicron in South Africa and other countries and has even caused a second Omicron surge in Denmark, Xinhua news agency reported.

Infectious disease experts cautioned the same could happen in the US, raising fears that the spread "may be on track to rapidly accelerate in the near future," the report said.

Omicron Sub-Variant Cases Increasing in India
Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 cases are gradually increasing in India when compared to the BA.1 variant in India and BA.3 sub-variant has not been detected in India yet.

Meanwhile, the risks of cardiovascular disease of all types increased substantially in the year following Covid-19 infection, according to a study published this February in Nature Medicine which looked into the health records of more than 153,000 US veterans.

Experts estimated there might be millions of new-onset cardiac cases related to the virus, plus a worsening of the disease for many already affected.

Persistent T Cell Response to Omicron After Infection and Vaccination
A new study shows that so-called memory T cells formed following previous infection or mRNA vaccination also respond to the omicron variant.

"We are expecting a tidal wave of cardiovascular events in the coming years from direct and indirect causes of Covid," The Washington Post reported, citing Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, President of the American Heart Association.

While New York state began to lift Covid-19 restrictions, not all residents favor the decision, The New York Times recently reported.

New 'variant Under Investigation' of Omicron Identified!
New strain of omicron — BA.2 is classified as a 'variant under investigation' as cases are confirmed in Britain.

According to a new poll released on Tuesday by the Siena College Research Institute, 45 percent of registered voters said the state should have kept in place its rule of requiring masks or proof of full vaccination in indoor public areas, which was recently rescinded.

Regarding masks in schools, 58 percent agreed to wait to review virus data for early March before deciding whether to extend the state mandate.

"I wish the pandemic were over and it was safe to lift vaccine mandates, particularly in spaces where masks will be off for eating and drinking," said Sadiya Khan, an epidemiologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"This seems like a move to promote normalcy without there really being normalcy."

Source-IANS