Joe Gastaldo, MD, System Medical Director for Infectious Diseases talks about the Omicron subvariant, BA.2, including how contagious it is and whether it makes people sicker than previous variants.
We are coming down from the Omicron surge, and one thing being talked about more is a subvariant, or sublineage, within Omicron called the BA.2.
Subvariants are not new. In fact, Delta actually has a few subvariants that were not mentioned in the media.
What we know about BA.2 is that it is likely to be more transmissible or more contagious, about 30 to 40 percent, than other subvariants. Tentatively, it is not associated with a higher severity of illness.
In addition, immunity is holding up against BA.2, and that includes immunity from vaccines and previous infections.
Want to learn more about common COVID-19 questions? Check our Fast Facts page.
