New COVID Variant Dubbed “Stealth Omicron”

Scientists are continuing to monitor the new omicron variant – BA.2 – which, due to its makeup could be harder to detect through select types of COVID tests.

BA.2 has currently been reported in 40 countries and 17 states with California seeing  the greatest number of total cases – with the first cases appearing in the U.S. in early January in Washington State.

Alabama has yet to report any cases of BA.2 and omicron remains responsible for an overwhelming majority of new cases in the state and the U.S. as a whole.

The World Health Organization continues to maintain – however – that BA.2 is “not a variant of concern”; which means there’s no evidence at this time it’ll overall worsen transmission of COVID-19, illness severity of or the effect of vaccines.

Due to differences in its spike protein makeup BA.2 – called “stealth omicron” – could be harder to genetically sequence through testing.  Despite the unknowns, advice for protecting yourself against BA.2 and other COVID variants remains the same – wear a mask, get vaccinated, avoid large crowds and stay at home if you’re sick.

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