The BA.2 variant is still spreading, worrying experts about what’s next for COVID-19

Is COVID-19 over? Or will the BA.2 variant proceed to unfold?

Illustration by Zoe Peterson, Deseret Information

Infectious illness specialists proceed to fret in regards to the extra contagious model of the omicron variant, BA.2.

What’s occurring: The BA.2 subvariant of the omicron variant continues to unfold all through the USA.

• The unfold of BA.2 has been sluggish and regular.
• Omicron variant COVID-19 instances proceed to drop.
• “The concern is that unfold could also be on monitor to quickly speed up within the close to future,” in line with NPR.

What they’re saying: “Plenty of us have been assuming that it was going to rapidly take off in the USA identical to it was doing in Europe and turn out to be the brand new dominant variant,” Nathan Grubaugh, an affiliate professor of epidemiology on the Yale College of Public Well being, advised NPR.

Potential hazard: New lab experiments in Japan discovered that BA.2 variant has numerous options that may result in extreme COVID-19 signs, as I reported for the Deseret Information.

• The analysis — revealed forward of peer evaluation on the bioRxiv server — discovered that BA.2 can resist COVID-19 vaccines and it may resist some therapies, such because the monoclonal antibody sotrovimab.

The larger image: As COVID-19 instances dwindle, individuals throughout the USA are questioning what is going to come subsequent within the pandemic. There are hints of normality across the nook. However specialists are nonetheless anxious extra variants might unfold all through the inhabitants.