A NEW Covid strain dubbed “Omicron’s sister”It is being investigated by UK health chiefs.
It was first discovered in December. Omicron spread around the world shortly after.
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This sub-lineage is called BA.2, and most Omicron cases are from the original BA.1 variant.
A string of positive studies show Omicron is milder than other strains in the vaccinated – with vaccines also thought to still be effective against this new variant, BA.2.
Experts agree that there is nothing to be worried about and there is no evidence it will get worse.
It has been seen in many other countries since December 6, but is far from Omicron’s.
The UKHSA will formally confirm that it is under investigation during this afternoon’s technical briefing.
It is a subvariant of Omicron that has many of the same mutations, but the current case rates are extremely low.
The sub-variant doesn’t contain the key mutation that allows laboratories to identify and flag cases.
Scientists suggest it could be more transmissible than other variants and may be harder to differentiate using PCR tests.
Initial studies in Denmark show no difference in hospitalization risk, despite the fact that the sub-variant has rapidly spread and now accounts for half of Omicron cases.
We need more data to determine if it is transmissible better than the original Omicron.
Danish officials claim that Covid vaccines are still as effective.
Dr Meera Chand (UKHSA’s incident director), stated that the sub-variant follows a pattern similar to “viruses to evolve and mutate”.
Adding: “Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to detect them and assess whether they are significant.”
Tom Peacock is a virologist at Imperial College London. He said that evidence from the beginning suggested there wasn’t a difference in severity.
He tweeted: “There will likely be minimal differences in vaccine efficacy against BA.1 versus BA.2.
“*Very* early observations from India and Denmark suggest there is no dramatic difference in severity compared to BA.1. These data will become more reliable (one way or the other) over the next few weeks.
“So, how concerned should we be? Those working in sequencing/surveillance should definitely be keeping a close eye on BA.2 (and very likely already are!).
“Personally, I’m not sure BA.2 is going to have a substantial impact on the current Omicron wave of the pandemic…”
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Health officials repeatedly stated that Omicron booster jabs are effective in protecting against covid and give the best chance of surviving the pandemic.
Central Recorder’s Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits’ arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.
Up to 2,093 cases have been identified as BA.2 in 22 countries.
The new form was first seen in South Africa and Australia.
The UK Health Security Agency confirmed that 53 cases had been identified as of January 10.
It added: “UKHSA are continuing to monitor data on the BA.2 sub-lineage closely.”
This comes at a time when the R rate has fallen significantly this week, another indication that Omicron has reached its peak in England.
The R-rate in England now hovers between 0.8-1.1, a drop from 1.1-1.5 last Wednesday.
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This comes as Boris Johnson (Prime Minister) announced that Plan B restrictions will be lifted and working from home will be allowed to continue.
Vaccine passports will be dumped along with requirement to wear face masks anywhere indoors.
Effective immediately, the guidance regarding working remotely was removed. Brits could return to work this week.
The rules that remain will expire on January 26, so the changes will start on Thursday morning.
Scientists have also said that Omicron deaths have peaked and will start to drop within days.