Fast-spreading Omicron Sub-variant Raises Concerns

An Omicron sub-variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading fast in many parts of the world and raising concerns for experts.

In the northeastern states, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, BA.2 has made up more than half of the cases.

In Britain, the Office for National Statistics also reported that cases of BA.2 infection had outnumbered other versions by early March.

Dr. Anthony Fauci is the U.S. government's top infectious disease expert.

He told ABC's This Week program that the U.S. would likely see an increase of infections like Britain.

They have a relaxation of some restrictions such as indoor masking.”

Additionally, immunity from vaccines and past infections was also decreasing.

Dr. Eric Topol is head of Scripps Research Translational Institute.

He told the Associated Press, “It's inevitable we will see a BA.2 wave here.”

And an early study in Qatar also suggests that vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will work against both Omicron sub-variants.

The results suggest that the level of protection against BA.2 is about the same as for BA.1.

I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.