BA.2 subvariant of Omicron becomes dominant COVID-19 strain the U.S.

A more contagious sub-variant of Omicron, BA.2, is now the dominant version of COVID-19 coursing across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The sub-variant accounts for about 55% of COVID infection samples that have been sequenced recently. However, a new dominant strain does not necessarily mean there will be a new wave of cases.

According to the CDC, BA.2 has doubled as a proportion of circulating variants about every 14-days since its discovery. In early February, BA.2 made up just 1% of sequenced cases. 

The sub-variant spreads about 75% faster than earlier strains of Omicron. The sub-variant  drove temporary surges in parts of Europe and has delivered China its worst reported outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic. 

Though BA.2 is highly contagious, it does not make people sicker than earlier forms of the virus. Omicron variants, in general, result in less severe symptoms and illness than the Delta variant. 

The northeast section of the U.S. has been hit hardest by the new variant.

According to the CDC, it currently accounts for about 73% of COVID cases that have been sequenced in New England, and 70% that have been sequenced in New York and New Jersey.