A new subvariant of the Omicron strain of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in our region and nationally.
The form of the virus called BA.2 now makes up nearly a quarter of new COVID infections nationwide.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York and New Jersey attribute 39 percent of new cases to the new mutation.
Doctor Sixto Caro, Internist at NYU Langone Hospital, indicated that the subvariant “It can perpetuate, make the number of infected people last longer, because the omicron has much more contagious capacity.”
For his part, Dr. Juan Emilio Carillo, Epidemiologist and professor at Cornell University, pointed out that “The medicines we have work well, so the good news is that it is more infectious, but we know that it is not worse.”
The subvariant is causing waves of illness in other countries as restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic are lifted.
Experts stress the importance of getting vaccinated, getting the booster, and covering your nose and mouth in congregations even though the authorities do not require it.
“Getting into a group of people who don’t have a mask and who are very crowded is always dangerous, because out of every 20 people in a group, one of them has the coronavirus.” Carrillo said.
Despite what I would suggest, residents of the Big Apple like Ercia Narvaez are resisting.
“I already feel calmer and I say that it is going to be like the flu: everyone is going to have it and we are all going to have to live with it.”
Both public health experts and doctors hope that the FDA will soon approve the use of the vaccine for the little ones, who, although they tend to suffer a milder infection from COVID-19, are still contagious factors for the people with whom they enter. in contact.
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