Fast-Moving Subvariant BA.2 Advancing Toward Dominance In US
A genomics company says that its data shows that "stealth omicron" is already responsible for most new covid infections, while the CDC says it accounts for 1 in 3 cases. As those trends indicate that the highly transmissible subvariant is gaining traction, experts urge the U.S. to prepare.
The Washington Post:
Latest Version Of Omicron Accounts For Most New Infections In Many Parts Of The U.S., Genomics Testing Shows
The recently emerged version of the coronavirus called BA.2 that has driven a wave of cases in Europe now accounts for as much as 70 percent of new infections in many parts of the United States, according to an estimate from the genomics company Helix that could signal a new chapter in the third year of the pandemic. The estimate from Helix, which conducts genomic sequencing on virus samples, comes amid concerns that Europe’s surge in infections will be replicated in coming weeks in the United States, where caseloads have often trailed those in Europe by roughly a month. (Achenbach, 3/22)
Bay Area News Group:
Omicron BA.2 Subvariant Now One In Three U.S. COVID-19 Cases
The CDC data show that as of March 19, BA.2 — often referred to as “stealth omicron” — accounted for 34.9% of genetically sequenced samples across the U.S., up from 22.3% as of March 12 and 12.6% on March 5. In the Northeast, BA.2 accounts for as much as 55.4% of the virus, and in Western states including California, 41.3%. Dr. George Rutherford, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California-San Francisco, said the increase is “about what I expected” given the subvariant’s transmissibility. “It will continue to climb at 10 percentage points a week or so,” Rutherford said. (Woolfolk, 3/22)
Bloomberg:
BA.2 Variant Spreading In U.S., CDC Says, Especially In New York, Northeast
The fast-growing lineage of the coronavirus is most common in New England and in the New York region, where it accounted for more than half of all new infections, according to agency projections. While Covid cases have continued to drop nationally, New York City saw infections rise about 33% to 924 for the week ending March 19, according to a separate tally of cases from the agency — well below levels during the winter omicron surge. BA.2 isn't believed to be more dangerous than other strains, though there are indications that it is more infectious. (Muller, 3/22)
The Boston Globe:
Omicron Subvariant Now Accounts For Over Half Of All COVID-19 Cases In New England, CDC Says
A new Omicron subvariant, which is believed to be one of the drivers of a COVID-19 resurgence in Europe, now accounts for more than half the new cases in New England, according to estimates from the CDC. The subvariant, known as BA.2, accounted for 55.4 percent of cases in New England as of Saturday, continuing to elbow out other varieties of Omicron. Nationally, BA.2 has grown to account for 34.9 percent of cases, up from 1 percent as recently as early February, according to the CDC estimates. (Fincane, Fujiwara and Huddle, 3/22)
More on the surge of BA.2 —
CNN:
US Covid-19: As BA.2 Subvariant Grows, Experts Look To Other Countries To Predict Its Impact Here
After weeks in free fall, new Covid-19 cases are starting to level off in the US, as the BA.2 subvariant continues its ascent. BA.2 caused about 35% of cases in the US last week, up from 22% the week before, according to new estimates from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which were posted on Tuesday. At the same time, new Covid-19 cases are holding steady or increasing in about 19 states, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Some of the states seeing increases—New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Jersey are in northeastern regions where the CDC estimates that BA.2 is now causing more than half of new Covid-19 cases. (Goodman, 3/23)
The Washington Post:
How Fast Omicron’s BA.2 Variant Is Spreading Around The World
In a pattern the world has seen twice over the past year, a new version of the coronavirus is sweeping across the globe. Omicron’s BA.2 subvariant is already by far the world’s dominant form of the coronavirus, as recorded in the GISAID international repository of coronavirus genetic sequences analyzed by The Washington Post. (Keating, Dong and Shin, 3/22)
The Wall Street Journal:
Clues To Covid-19’s Next Moves Come From Sewers
At a sewage treatment plant on a sliver of land in Boston Harbor, trickles of wastewater are pumped into a plastic jug every 15 minutes. Samples from the jugs, analyzed at a lab in nearby Cambridge, Mass., are part of the growing effort to monitor the Covid-19 virus in wastewater across the U.S. On Deer Island in Boston, readings from the system covering 2.4 million people have recently shown virus readings leveling off after a steep decline from this winter’s Omicron-driven rise. In some areas, levels of the virus may be edging higher. (Abbott and Kamp, 3/22)
