Omicron BA.2 – Everything we know about the rapidly spreading Covid ‘stealth’ variant

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Scientists are closely monitoring a subtype of Omicron Covid-19 after it spread widely and rapidly around the world.

BA.2 has been classified as a cryptic variant due to the difficulties in capturing it in PCR testing, and its rapid spread has led to concerns that it may be more transmissible because it is not readily identifiable upon capture.

Experts are closely watching its growth across countries after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared it a “variable under investigation,” HullLive reports.

Read more: Go here for the latest coronavirus updates and Covid-19 breaking news

We’ve collected everything you need to know about BA.2 Omicron, from what it is and how you can protect yourself to its potential impact on restrictions.

What is BA.2? The new strain of Omicron was first recognized in South Africa (Image: copyright unknown)

Like the original strain of Omicron, BA.2 was first spotted in South Africa, this time in November.

It contains 32 of the same mutations as the first Omicron – BA.1 – but also has 28 different mutations.

An increasing number of cases are being reported in many countries, including the United Kingdom. It has been called the “hidden omicron” because it spreads quietly without being picked up for months.

The most recent figures suggest there have been at least 1,000 cases of BA.2 in England, although this is likely an underestimate given that most test results are not sequential to identify the variant.

Why has it become a concern?

The strain is found in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, India, South Africa and Denmark where the proportion of cases caused by BA.2 is increasing.

BA.2 is becoming more common indicating that it may soon replace BA.1 as the dominant form of the virus.

Dr Susan Hopkins, UKHSA’s chief medical officer, said: “We now know that BA.2 has an increased rate of growth, which can be seen in all regions of England.

“We also learned that BA.2 has a slightly higher secondary attack rate than BA.1 in homes.”

How severe is the disease from BA.2? Experts have yet to conclude whether the new alternative is more or less severe (Photo: Newcastle Chronicle)

Experts are still trying to analyze the full scope of the emergence of this new variant but are not quite finished if it is more severe than the previous Omicron strain.

Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London said: “We do not currently have any strong evidence for taper or severity or much evidence for transmissibility of BA.2 that may be more than BA.1.”

The scientist said very early observations from India and Denmark suggested there was no “significant difference” in intensity compared to Omicron, but that the data were being closely monitored.

More transmissible viruses remain a cause for concern because they could lead to more hospitalizations, deaths and more widespread cases even if the strain is considered less severe.

How can I protect myself from it?

With growing concerns surrounding how transmissible the variant is, caution is advised in order to prevent a chain of infections that could lead to fatalities.

Dr Susan Hopkins, UKHSA’s senior medical advisor, said: “While hospital admissions and deaths remain low, cases are still high in some regions and some age groups, so it is important that we continue to act with caution as restrictions are lifted.

“Consider wearing a face covering when in crowded places. Get a vaccine to protect yourself from Covid-19. If you have any symptoms, get tested.”

Does this mean another vaccine? No new booster has been suggested at this time (Image: Getty Images)

It largely depends on how many you have; But no new enhancer has been proposed at this time. According to the UK’s Health Security Agency, current vaccines are actually better at protecting than BA.2 over BA.1.

Three doses of the vaccine are 70% effective in preventing accidental infections with BA.2 two weeks after the booster dose and 63% effective against BA.1.

Two doses of the vaccine show that the efficacy after 25 weeks is 13 percent against BA.2 and 9 percent against BA.1

Data are currently being monitored to assess the full extent of these increased cases with little known knowledge of their severity compared to BA.1.

No suggested adjustments have been made as we got out of the restrictions last week but some rules are still in place to help limit the spread.

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