What omicron's fast spread could mean for the U.S. — and the world
3 years ago

What omicron's fast spread could mean for the U.S. — and the world

NPR  

What omicron's fast spread could mean for the U.S. — and the world The first country to really get hit by omicron is South Africa. In some countries, omicron could have more trouble competing because of higher immunity levels and the increasing push to get booster shots – which early data show may help stop omicron infections, says Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. "This in and of itself may very much influence the trajectory of omicron in a country like the United States versus in a country like South Africa," she says. Even if omicron does end up being less severe than delta and not as many people get very ill, Barrett of the Wellcome Sanger Institute says there's plenty of reason for concern given just how contagious it appears to be: "A small proportion of a huge number all at once can still overwhelm health care systems."

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History of this topic

Global Covid cases up 80% as new Omicron subvariant EG.5 rises
1 year, 4 months ago

Global Covid cases up 80% as new Omicron subvariant EG.5 rises

India Today  

The number of new Covid-19 cases reported worldwide rose by 80 per cent in the last month, the World Health Organization said on Friday, days after designating a new "variant of interest". In its weekly update, the UN agency said that nations reported nearly 1.5 million new cases from July 10 to August 6, an 80 per cent increase compared …

Many Asian Nations Seeing Covid Rise, India, Singapore on List. Are Countries Planning Curbs?
1 year, 8 months ago

Many Asian Nations Seeing Covid Rise, India, Singapore on List. Are Countries Planning Curbs?

News 18  

A recent spike in Covid-19 cases is seen among Asian nations with the fresh wave exerting pressure on the healthcare systems. India, on the other hand, has touched daily cases of 10,000, the highest in nearly eight months, while Indonesia’s caseload is near a four-month high, Bloomberg reported. Medical experts have said the virus’ new XBB.1.16 variant could be driving …

Explained | Should India worry about rising COVID-19 cases?
1 year, 9 months ago

Explained | Should India worry about rising COVID-19 cases?

The Hindu  

The story so far: Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week convened a high-level meeting of the COVID-19 task force. As of March 23, India officially reported 1,300 new coronavirus cases over a 24-hour period bringing the overall tally of active cases to 7,605. Editorial |No cause for alarm: On the Omicron recombinant XBB.1.16 in India He emphasised the need to …

Mutated version of Omicron is behind spike in case, health system on alert: Govt
1 year, 9 months ago

Mutated version of Omicron is behind spike in case, health system on alert: Govt

Live Mint  

Amid a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in India, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said that currently a mutated variant of the Omicron sub-variant is spreading in the country and the health authorities are on alert. The health minister added that vaccines used by India have been found effective against all Covid-19 variants found till …

Omicron variants BA.5.2, BF.7 behind China Covid surge but numbers unreliable, says WHO | 5 points
1 year, 11 months ago

Omicron variants BA.5.2, BF.7 behind China Covid surge but numbers unreliable, says WHO | 5 points

India Today  

Omicron subvariants of the Corona virus - BA.5.2 and BF.7 - are responsible for driving up Covid numbers in China, said the World Health Organisation on Wednesday. It added that the data shows no new variants were found in China but the country is "under-representing" the Covid deaths since cases started surging last month. The WHO's emergencies director, Mike Ryan, …

Understanding Omicron BF.7, The New Covid-19 Variant From China, And How India Should Prepare
2 years ago

Understanding Omicron BF.7, The New Covid-19 Variant From China, And How India Should Prepare

ABP News  

The Covid-19 pandemic is dragging on too long, and there is still no respite in sight. Coronaviruses And Variants The original virus that first emerged from Wuhan in China is termed SARS CoV-2 and is a strain of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The original virus and viral mutations and variants are routinely monitored through sequence-based surveillance, laboratory studies, and …

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is
2 years ago

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is

Live Mint  

Covid-19’s rapid spread in China has prompted reports of crowded hospitals and inundated crematoria. China is meeting the Omicron variant with less exposure to the virus and lower vaccination rates among the elderly, public-health experts said. Covid-19’s spread there will help explain to what extent lower rates of severe disease and death are influenced by Omicron’s nature compared with a …

Covid-19 Omicron sub-variant BF.7 won't lead to severe disease, expert's report
2 years ago

Covid-19 Omicron sub-variant BF.7 won't lead to severe disease, expert's report

India TV News  

The current Covid surge in many countries including China is believed to be driven by Omicron sub-variant BF.7. The BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5, which, Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-chairman, the National IMA Covid taskforce, calls 'great-grandson of Omicron'. Giving credit to high vaccination coverage and naturally acquired immunity among those who survived past Covid-19 infection, Dr …

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is
2 years ago

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is

Live Mint  

Covid-19’s rapid spread in China has prompted reports of crowded hospitals and inundated crematoria. China is meeting the Omicron variant with less exposure to the virus and lower vaccination rates among the elderly, public-health experts said. Covid-19’s spread there will help explain to what extent lower rates of severe disease and death are influenced by Omicron’s nature compared with a …

Virologist Gagandeep Kang says India doing fine, do not expect surge in cases due to Omicron's sub-variants XBB, BF.7
2 years ago

Virologist Gagandeep Kang says India doing fine, do not expect surge in cases due to Omicron's sub-variants XBB, BF.7

The Hindu  

Renowned virologist Gagandeep Kang on December 23, 2022 said India has reported a few cases of Omicron sub-variants XBB and BF.7, but they have not driven an upsurge, and she does not expect a spike in COVID cases. "They are, like all Omicron sub-variants, very good at infecting people because they escape the immune response that prevents infection, but are …

India doing fine, no surge expected in cases due to Omicron sub-variants: Virologist
2 years ago

India doing fine, no surge expected in cases due to Omicron sub-variants: Virologist

Deccan Chronicle  

NEW DELHI: Renowned virologist Gangandeep Kang on Friday said India has reported a few cases of Omicron sub-variants XBB and BF.7, but they have not driven an upsurge, and she does not expect a spike in Covid cases. "They are, like all Omicron sub-variants, very good at infecting people because they escape the immune response that prevents infection, but are …

COVID-19 | Omicron subvariant BF.7, linked to China spike, first found in India in July
2 years ago

COVID-19 | Omicron subvariant BF.7, linked to China spike, first found in India in July

The Hindu  

The BF.7 variant of COVID-19, believed to be driving the recent surge of cases in China, was first identified in India as far back as July. “A new and highly transmissible BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant has been found to be behind a wider surge of covid infections in China,” it added. The assessment of government officials involved in …

With detection of Omicron sub-variant in India, medical experts sound an alarm, insist on adhering to COVID-19 protocols
2 years ago

With detection of Omicron sub-variant in India, medical experts sound an alarm, insist on adhering to COVID-19 protocols

The Hindu  

Going by the media reports on the COVID-19 situation in China, Japan and the U.S., the situation once again looks grim, and it appears that the world is heading back to square one. With reports on detection of three cases of Omicron sub-variant — two in Gujarat and one in Odisha, it is even more pertinent that we go back …

Omicron BF.7: Cases of highly infectious strain rise in India; experts on symptoms, precautions and fresh wave
2 years ago

Omicron BF.7: Cases of highly infectious strain rise in India; experts on symptoms, precautions and fresh wave

Hindustan Times  

Three cases of Omicron BF.7 strain, that is driving the current wave of Covid infections in China, have been detected in India so far. IT COULD BE A HORRIBLE SCENARIO: EXPERT ON POSSIBILITY OF FRESH COVID WAVE Dr Ravindra Gupta, Dept of Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram says that with people travelling across the world at this …

3 cases of Covid variant driving massive China surge detected in India
2 years ago

3 cases of Covid variant driving massive China surge detected in India

Hindustan Times  

Three cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7, apparently the strain driving China's current surge of Covid cases, have been detected in India so far, official sources said Wednesday. BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5 and has the strongest infection ability The first case of BF.7 in India was detected in October by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre. According to …

Omicron subvariant BF.7 behind China Covid spike already existed in India. Do we need to be scared?
2 years ago

Omicron subvariant BF.7 behind China Covid spike already existed in India. Do we need to be scared?

Firstpost  

BF.7, the sub-variant of Omicron, is said to be highly contagious, more immunologically evasive and therefore, has a greater transmissibility New Delhi: Omicron BF.7 is currently the dominant variant of Covid in China that is making people fall sick, overwhelming hospitals and piling up bodies in morgues. Dr Madhavi Joshi, senior scientist at Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, which detected the …

Covid-19 cases in the US surpass 100 million, says report
2 years ago

Covid-19 cases in the US surpass 100 million, says report

Firstpost  

According to health officials in China, Chinese cities are currently hit by the highly transmissible Omicron strains, mainly BA.5.2 and BF.7 Washington: The number of Covid-19 cases registered in the US since the start of the pandemic in early 2020 exceeded a staggering 100 million, Johns Hopkins University has said, amid a sharp spike in caseloads globally and the WHO …

3 Cases of Omicron Variant BF.7 Behind China's Covid Surge Found in India. Should You Be Worried?
2 years ago

3 Cases of Omicron Variant BF.7 Behind China's Covid Surge Found in India. Should You Be Worried?

News 18  

Omicron variant BF.7, the Covid-19 variant responsible for a sudden rise in cases in China, has also made its way to India, as 3 such cases have been detected in the country. Omicron variant BF.7 is said to be the primary cause behind the extreme surge in Covid cases, and Covid-related deaths in China. Chinese cities are currently hit by …

New Covid Wave: How India's situation will be better than China? Former AIIMS Director explains
2 years ago

New Covid Wave: How India's situation will be better than China? Former AIIMS Director explains

India TV News  

Covid Wave Omicron BF.7: A new Covid-19 wave has gripped China which is majorly driven by Omicron sub-variant BF.7. Though BF.7 may be more infectious, here's why India situation may be better than China, according to former AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria. How India's situation may be better than China amid new Covid wave Speaking to India TV, former AIIMS director …

Next Covid-19 Strain May Be More Dangerous, Says New Study
2 years, 1 month ago

Next Covid-19 Strain May Be More Dangerous, Says New Study

News 18  

While China is experiencing a sudden surge in COVID cases, the rest of the world is comparatively doing better with the current Omicron strain in retreat mode. However, our concerns may be far from over as a new lab report says that the next COVID-19 variant may be way more dangerous than the Omicron strain. This study has been conducted …

After a year, omicron still driving COVID surges and worries
2 years, 1 month ago

After a year, omicron still driving COVID surges and worries

Associated Press  

A year after omicron began its assault on humanity, the ever-morphing coronavirus mutant drove COVID-19 case counts higher in many places just as Americans gathered for Thanksgiving. “It’s making a clear comeback.” Nationally, new COVID cases averaged around 39,300 a day as of Tuesday — far lower than last winter but a vast undercount because of reduced testing and reporting. …

New Omicron Variants Not Causing Significant Rise in Hospitalisations, Say Experts
2 years, 2 months ago

New Omicron Variants Not Causing Significant Rise in Hospitalisations, Say Experts

News 18  

The new variants of Omicron, XXB and BQ.1, have not led to any significant rise in coronavirus infections and hospitalisations in Maharashtra, experts have said. Dr Anita Mathew, Infectious Disease Specialist at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said many of the new patients are asymptomatic. The department had also cautioned that coronavirus cases could rise during winter and the festive season, citing …

New Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 make gains as BA.5 fades
2 years, 2 months ago

New Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 make gains as BA.5 fades

LA Times  

Soledad Enrichment Action community health workers Vivian Ramirez, left, and Maria Mejia, right, distribute COVID-related resources at a supermarket on Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles last week. “However, we’re also optimistic because we have powerful tools, including therapeutics and the new bivalent boosters, that can blunt the impact.” At this point, BA.5 remains the most common version of the coronavirus …

Why Does the U.S. Always Seem to Get Coronavirus Variants After Europe Does?
2 years, 2 months ago

Why Does the U.S. Always Seem to Get Coronavirus Variants After Europe Does?

Slate  

COVID cases have recently spiked in Europe, fueled by dropping temperatures, indoor socializing, and an unwelcome brood of antibody-dodging omicron subvariants. “In the past, what’s happened in Europe often has been a harbinger for what’s about to happen in the United States,” Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, tells …

Omicron variant continues to be dominant as India reports 1,994 fresh Covid cases | Top points
2 years, 2 months ago

Omicron variant continues to be dominant as India reports 1,994 fresh Covid cases | Top points

India Today  

As the Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the dominant variant in the country, India's Covid-19 tally climbed to 4,46,42,742 with 1,994 fresh cases, while the number of active cases of the infection declined to 23,432. The active cases account for 0.05 per cent of the total caseload, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.76 per …

New Omicron subvariant expected to drive Covid wave in Europe
2 years, 2 months ago

New Omicron subvariant expected to drive Covid wave in Europe

Hindustan Times  

A new omicron subvariant is poised to become dominant in Europe and will probably drive another increase in Covid-19 cases, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said. Representational image The BQ.1 subvariant, and its sublineage BQ.1.1, will probably dominate in Europe by mid-November to the beginning of December and help send cases up in “coming weeks to months,” …

Ex-AIIMS boss cautions against new Omicron variants, says situation is different
2 years, 2 months ago

Ex-AIIMS boss cautions against new Omicron variants, says situation is different

Hindustan Times  

A senior health expert has appealed for caution in the wake of the emergence of sub-variants of the fast-spreading Omicron strain of the coronavirus disease. Besides the advisory on masks, Guleria urged high-risk groups and elderly people to avoid going out due to the risk of the spread of the infection. Maharashtra has also reported India's first case of XBB …

Covid-19: Here’s all we know about Omicron variants and their spread in India
2 years, 2 months ago

Covid-19: Here’s all we know about Omicron variants and their spread in India

Hindustan Times  

India on Tuesday reported its first case of BQ.1 of Covid-19 – one of Omicron's sub-variants. Here is the list of Omicron variants and subvariants said to be spreading across the country: BQ.1: India’s first case of Omicron subvariant BQ.1 was detected during genome sequencing of a Pune resident’s sample, the Maharashtra health department said, adding that high-risk patients should …

Omicron sub-variant linked to Singapore Covid surge gains ground in India: Official
2 years, 2 months ago

Omicron sub-variant linked to Singapore Covid surge gains ground in India: Official

Hindustan Times  

NEW DELHI: A new Omicron sub-variant of Covid-19, dubbed XBB and responsible for a sharp surge in cases in Singapore, is gaining ground in India, with at least 10-15% samples sequenced in the country showing its presence, according to people familiar with the matter. XBB, which is a combination of Omicron’s BA.2.75 and BJ.1 sub-variants, was first detected in Singapore …

Omicron’s staying power is key to mild winter as cases rise
2 years, 2 months ago

Omicron’s staying power is key to mild winter as cases rise

Hindustan Times  

The rhythm of pre-pandemic life is back around much of the world. “It’s totally possible that some strange new combination of mutations is emerging in some person who is chronically infected and that could spark a new variant,” he said, “but we don’t have the ability to predict that.” The more infections there are, the higher the chances of unpredictable …

Why new ‘highly infectious’ Omicron strains are China's new Covid challenge
2 years, 2 months ago

Why new ‘highly infectious’ Omicron strains are China's new Covid challenge

Hindustan Times  

New Omicron sub-variants BF.7 and BA.5.1.7 have been detected in China amid the latest Covid uptick in the country. China reported 1,878 cases on Sunday, the highest since August 20, as the week-long National Day holiday saw cases flare among returning travelers. BF.7 subvariant which was first detected in northwest China spread to more Chinese provinces on Monday, reported Global …

Omicron infections provide protection against new COVID-19 variants, says study
2 years, 4 months ago

Omicron infections provide protection against new COVID-19 variants, says study

India TV News  

Vaccinated people who were infected by the earlier Omicron subvariants have four times greater protection than vaccinated people who were not infected against the new variants like BA.5, finds a new study. The study indicates that previous infection in vaccinated people continues to confer immunity for the variants that are known for their ability to evade the immune response. "Vaccinated …

You may have been spreading the omicron variant without knowing it
2 years, 4 months ago

You may have been spreading the omicron variant without knowing it

Salon  

While omicron subvariant BA.5 has revealed itself to be the most contagious and immune-evasive iteration of COVID-19 yet, scientists have known for a long time that many cases of COVID-19, regardless of variant, are completely asymptomatic. As the recent study published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open makes clear, more than half of the people who contracted the omicron …

Covid 19: Omicron, its sub-lineages circulating predominantly in India, say sources
2 years, 4 months ago

Covid 19: Omicron, its sub-lineages circulating predominantly in India, say sources

India TV News  

Highlights Omicron and its sub-lineages are the predominant mutations that are circulating in India. Covid 19 cases: Omicron and its sub-lineages are the predominant mutations that are circulating in India, revealed a report released by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium after it reviewed data on genomic surveillance of variants. "Presently, only Omicron and its sub-lineages are the predominant circulating variants …

COVID cases drop 9% globally last week, deaths stable
2 years, 5 months ago

COVID cases drop 9% globally last week, deaths stable

Associated Press  

LONDON — New coronavirus cases fell 9% globally last week while deaths remained stable, according to the latest weekly assessment of the pandemic released Wednesday by the World Health Organization. The U.N. health agency said there were 6.5 million cases reported last week with more than 14,000 deaths. In the U.K., the Office for National Statistics reported last week that …

Omicron BA.5 dominant subvariant, Covid hospitalisations rising, says WHO expert
2 years, 5 months ago

Omicron BA.5 dominant subvariant, Covid hospitalisations rising, says WHO expert

Hindustan Times  

Omicron, the latest variant of concern, is dominant worldwide, the World Health Organization’s infectious disease epidemiologist, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, has said, underlining that about half of the cases are linked to BA.5 sublineage. It’s the fifth or sixth week in a row where we’re seeing increases in the reported number of cases,” the world health body expert said in …

New coronavirus mutant raises concerns in India and beyond
2 years, 5 months ago

New coronavirus mutant raises concerns in India and beyond

Hindustan Times  

The quickly changing coronavirus has spawned yet another super contagious omicron mutant that’s worrying scientists as it gains ground in India and pops up in numerous other countries, including the United States. A nurse prepares to administer vaccine for COVID-19 at a private vaccination centre “It’s still really early on for us to draw too many conclusions,” said Matthew Binnicker, …

Stunning spread of BA.5 shows why this California COVID wave is so different
2 years, 5 months ago

Stunning spread of BA.5 shows why this California COVID wave is so different

LA Times  

People shop and work in Santee Ally on Monday. Far and away the dominant version of the coronavirus circulating nationwide — making up an estimated 65% of new cases over the weeklong period that ended Saturday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — BA.5 is arguably combining aspects of last summer’s Delta variant with older versions …

New coronavirus mutant raises concerns in India and beyond
2 years, 5 months ago

New coronavirus mutant raises concerns in India and beyond

India Today  

The quickly changing coronavirus has spawned yet another super contagious omicron mutant that’s worrying scientists as it gains ground in India and pops up in numerous other countries, including the United States. “It’s still really early on for us to draw too many conclusions,” said Matthew Binnicker, director of clinical virology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Still, the …

New coronavirus mutant raises concerns in India and beyond
2 years, 5 months ago

New coronavirus mutant raises concerns in India and beyond

Associated Press  

The quickly changing coronavirus has spawned yet another super contagious omicron mutant that’s worrying scientists as it gains ground in India and pops up in numerous other countries, including the United States. “It’s still really early on for us to draw too many conclusions,” said Matthew Binnicker, director of clinical virology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Still, the …

Yet another highly infectious Omicron variant is raising concerns in India and beyond
2 years, 5 months ago

Yet another highly infectious Omicron variant is raising concerns in India and beyond

LA Times  

The quickly changing coronavirus has spawned yet another super-contagious Omicron mutant that’s worrying scientists as it gains ground in India and pops up in numerous other countries, including the United States. “It’s still really early on for us to draw too many conclusions,” said Matthew Binnicker, director of clinical virology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “But it does …

COVID-19 cases on rise in 110 nations, driven by 2 Omicron sub-variants: WHO
2 years, 6 months ago

COVID-19 cases on rise in 110 nations, driven by 2 Omicron sub-variants: WHO

Live Mint  

The World Health Organization on 29 June said that the COVID-19 pandemic is changing but it is not over and cautioned the cases are on the rise in 110 countries. Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said hat the fast-spreading Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 together are estimated to make up half of the coronavirus cases …

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow
2 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow

Dutch News  

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has risen for the third week in a row, and more people have been admitted to a hospital intensive care ward, public health institute RIVM said on Tuesday. Warnings On Monday, the Netherlands’ two biggest employers’ organisations made a public appeal to get people to start keeping to the basic coronavirus …

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow
2 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow

Dutch News  

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has risen for the third week in a row, and more people have been admitted to a hospital intensive care ward, public health institute RIVM said on Tuesday. Warnings On Monday, the Netherlands’ two biggest employers’ organisations made a public appeal to get people to start keeping to the basic coronavirus …

Coronavirus infections rise 64% in a week as Omicron variants take hold
2 years, 6 months ago

Coronavirus infections rise 64% in a week as Omicron variants take hold

Dutch News  

The number of positive coronavirus tests registered with public health institute RIVM rose 64% over the past seven days to 15,526. The rise in official positive tests is probably connected to two new Omicron variants which are ‘gaining ground’ in the Netherlands, the RIVM said. The RIVM is monitoring the spread of the virus via traces in waste water, and …

The Omicron subvariant spreading across the U.S. shares an ominous trait with Delta
2 years, 7 months ago

The Omicron subvariant spreading across the U.S. shares an ominous trait with Delta

LA Times  

Coronavirus particles are seen under a microscope. A genetic trait that harks back to the pandemic’s past, known as a Delta mutation, appears to allow the virus “to escape preexisting immunity from vaccination and prior infection, especially if you were infected in the Omicron wave,” said Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas. The Omicron subvariant gaining …

COVID-19: NRI on Gujarat visit tests positive for Omicron sub-variant BA.5
2 years, 7 months ago

COVID-19: NRI on Gujarat visit tests positive for Omicron sub-variant BA.5

Firstpost  

The man, who lives in South Africa, had on 1 May tested positive for the coronavirus after he arrived here to meet his parents Vadodara: A 29-year-old NRI who recently came to Vadodara in Gujarat from South Africa has been found infected with the BA.5 sub-variant of the highly-transmittable Omicron variant of coronavirus, a health official said on Tuesday. The …

Omicron infection better at upping immunity than boosters, claims study
2 years, 7 months ago

Omicron infection better at upping immunity than boosters, claims study

India Today  

As coronavirus continues to infect people across the world, the latest trends in India show that hospitalisation rates are very low and the recovery is faster. A new study now reveals that Omicron infections produced even better immune responses than a booster shot in vaccinated people. The study conducted by vaccine maker BioNTech SE and the University of Washington reassures …

South Africa in new surge of COVID from versions of omicron
2 years, 7 months ago

South Africa in new surge of COVID from versions of omicron

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa is experiencing a surge of new COVID-19 cases driven by two omicron sub-variants, according to health experts. “We are seeing a slight, a small increase in hospitalizations and really very few deaths.” South Africa’s new cases have gone from an average of 300 per day in early April to about 8,000 per day this week. South …

'Strong increase' of newest omicron variants in Amsterdam
2 years, 7 months ago

'Strong increase' of newest omicron variants in Amsterdam

NL Times  

The latest omicron variants of the coronavirus appear to be responsible for 7 percent of the infections in Amsterdam. In a random sample, 13 of the 181 analyzed tests contained the so-called BA.4 and BA.5 variant, the Amsterdam UMC and the GGD Amsterdam report. The sample therefore does not say everything about the distribution of the BA.4 and BA.5 variant …

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