Surprise, surprise, there are now two more new subvariants of the BA.2 Omicron subvariant of the Covid-19 coronavirus. And they’ve got the super easy-to-remember names BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1. These two sub-lineages of the BA.2 already constitute an estimated 80.6% of all Covid-19 infections in the state of New York. The Covid-19 coronavirus has been like boy bands in the 1990s and 2000s with new variations emerging quite often. When a new edition of the virus, BA.2.12.1, appears to be 23% to 27% more transmissible than the original BA.2 Omicron subvariant, it can go from being a new kid on the block to being a big time rush of the virus fairly quickly.
It can also lead to something that rhymes with “sup bling.” Indeed, Central New York has been experiencing an upswing in Covid-19 cases. In fact, in recent days, all counties in Central New York have been going in one direction with increases in both the total number of reported Covid-19 cases each day and the percentage of all tests coming back as positive for the SARS-CoV-2. It’s not clear whether these new subvariants are more likely to cause symptoms or more severe Covid-19 than BA.2. In other words, there hasn’t been enough time to determine what percentage of people infected will end up having temperatures much higher than 98 degrees or any other type of symptom.
In a press release from the New York State Department of Health, State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett stated that “We are alerting the public to two Omicron subvariants, newly emerged and rapidly spreading in upstate New York, so New Yorkers can act swiftly.” Bassett seemed to want everyone to get “*NSYNC” when it comes to Covid-19 precautions. She recommended that New Yorkers “get fully vaccinated and boosted, test following exposure, symptoms, or travel, consider wearing a mask in public indoor spaces, and consult with your healthcare provider about treatment if you test positive.”
It can also lead to something that rhymes with “sup bling.”
Not enough sleep last night, can someone explain?