Thanks to very high levels of vaccine coverage we already have a robust wall of defence against COVID-19 as new variants emerge. Everyone over 18 is now able to walk into a vaccine centre, so do not hesitate to get yours. UKHSA is undertaking further detailed studies. This sub-lineage, which was designated by Pangolin on 6 December 2021, does not have the spike gene deletion at 69-70 that causes S-gene target failure (SGTF), which has previously been used as a proxy to detect cases of Omicron. 1. Everyone should complete a primary course as soon as possible for most this will be a first and second dose. Work from home if you are able to, wear a mask indoors around other people, and ventilate indoor spaces well. Thats why its so important that everybody, everywhere, takes simple steps to protect themselves from infection. A runny nose, gastrointestinal. We now know that BA.2 has an increased growth rate which can be seen in all regions in England. Omicron BA.2.75, the variant derived from the BA.2 lineage which was identified internationally earlier this month, has now been categorised as a separate variant and given the designation V-22JUL-01. SUMMARY : The basics of the Omicron sub-variant, the BA.5, which is currently the majority in France: BA.5 is more contagious than BA.2 (January wave), which was itself more contagious than BA.1 and even more than Delta (variant 2021). Where individualsare suspected or confirmed to have theOmicron variantas the result of testing, their close contacts will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, required to self-isolate and asked to take aPCRtest,regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. The Omicron variant sub-lineage known as BA.2 has been designated a variant under investigation ( VUI-22JAN-01) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This increased to 63% for BA.1 and 70% for BA.2 at 2 weeks following a third vaccine. The omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected in late 2021. Twoto4 weeks after a booster dose, vaccine effectiveness ranged from around 65 to 75%, dropping to 55 to 70% at 5 to 9 weeks and 40 to 50% from 10+ weeks after the booster. A BA2 variant's symptoms are similar to those of Omicron. Well send you a link to a feedback form. The BA.2 subvariant has been referred to as stealth Omicron because it contains genetic mutations that can make it harder to distinguish from the . According to Baric, Omicron is the first SARS-CoV-2 variant to evolve in the context of mounting immunity in the populationthe result of vaccines and prior infection with other forms of the . The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published analyses of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2. We have now identified cases in the East Midlands, East of England, London and North West. Both have links to travel to Southern Africa. The full document and underlying data is available on GOV.UK. A growth rate potentially compatible with the eventual replacement of the current dominant variant. We constantly assess the genetic diversity within the known variants of concern (VOCs) to inform our ongoing public health response to the pandemic. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. As of May 2022, BA.2.12.1 was spreading in the US and two new subvariants of Omicron named BA.4 and BA.5, first detected in January 2022, spread in South Africa. Further studies are underway in the UK and abroad. Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: Viruses mutate often and at random, and it is not unexpected that new variants will continue to arise as the pandemic goes on, particularly while the case rate remains high. There is still uncertainty around the significance of the changes to the viral genome, and further analyses will now be undertaken. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to further investigate variants that are growing within the UK. There is currently no evidence of community transmission within the UK. The five most common symptoms of Omicron are: runny nose;. The study also showed evidence to suggest that the BA.2 sub-variant is better able to evade vaccines. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant so please get your first, second, third or booster jab as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. The areas with the largest number of confirmed cases are London (146) and the South East (97). Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. So far there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about transmissibility, severity or vaccine effectiveness. New studies are being undertaken to assess this further. Night sweats Scratchy throat Dry cough Mild muscle aches In data published by the UKHSA on January 14, they found that NHS test and trace data revealed a loss of smell or taste was reported less. However, increases in SGTF can give a useful early indication of variant spread. Omicron BA.2 lacks the genetic deletion on the spike protein which produces S-gene target failure (SGTF) in some polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which has been used as a proxy for Omicron cases previously. Our advanced sequencing capabilities enable us to find variants and take rapid action to limit onward spread. Omicron sublineages BQ.1 and XBB have been given UKHSA variant designations to facilitate continued studies. UKHSA, in partnership with scientific bodies across the globe, is constantly monitoring the status of SARS-CoV-2 variants as they emerge and develop worldwide. UKHSA is gathering scientific information as quickly as possible in order to inform the right balance of interventions to prevent transmission and protect lives. The COVID Omicron sub-variant BA.2, informally dubbed the "Stealth Omicron" variant, is able to reinfect people who have already had Omicron, a new study suggests. Runny nose (especially in combination with loss of smell) A runny nose is a universal sign of cold, flu and now COVID-19. Dr Jenny Harries, UKHSA Chief Executive, said: Our latest analysis shows an encouraging early signal that people who contract the Omicron variant may be at a relatively lower risk of hospitalisation than those who contract other variants. Infection rate corrected to one million infections a day. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? A second BTN162b2 booster was previously found to be 52% and 72% effective in preventing Omicron BA.1 infection and hospitalization, respectively, in adults 60 years. Please also make sure to follow all Government guidance to reduce the spread of infection. XBB.1.5 remains at very low prevalence in the UK, so estimates of growth are highly uncertain. If you have any symptoms, take a test. The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) COVID-19 variant technical briefing, published today, includes updated epidemiological analysis which indicates that Omicron BA.5 has, as expected, become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the UK. There will be no other categorisation of variants, including no variant under investigation (VUI) category. BA.2 continues to demonstrate a substantial growth advantage. But at that point the sub-variant still appeared to account for less than one in 20 cases. UKHSA has also published a breakdown of confirmed Omicron cases and SGTF cases by local authority. The original Delta variant remains overwhelmingly dominant in the UK, making up approximately 99.8% of all cases. 8 Research published in April 2022 in The Lancet also found. A detrimental change in biological properties (changes in transmissibility, severity or immune evasion) compared to the current dominant variant. #India is another country where #SARS_CoV_2 BA.2 is rapidly replacing #Delta & #Omicron BA.1. As always, the booster vaccine remains the best protection against infection. People infected with Omicron are also less likely to experience fever or loss of taste and smell. The proportion of test results displaying SGTF has been very low in recent months but an increase has been observed in the past week. As with other kinds of variant, most will die off relatively quickly. UKHSA scientists are urging anyone who has not had all the vaccines they are eligible for to make sure that they get them as soon as possible. In the UK, 38 cases of XF have been identified, though none have been seen since mid February. The Omicron BA.2 subvariant is fast becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19, with symptoms similar to previous strains of the virus. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest Variant Technical Briefing. As viruses mutate often and at random, it is not unusual for small numbers of cases to arise featuring new sets of mutations. They save lives and prevent serious illness. While there is a suggestion that this wanes slightly after 15 weeks, protection in this age group remains high at over 85%. As of 20 October, there were 15,120 cases of VUI-21OCT-01 confirmed by whole genome sequences in England since it was first detected in July. Of those with Omicron, 9.5% have had COVID-19 before, which is likely to be a substantial underestimate of the proportion of reinfections, as many prior infections will have been asymptomatic and not picked up by the analysis. Francois Balloux, Professor of Computational Systems Biology and director of the UCL Genetics Institute, said that BA.1 and BA.2 "can be considered as two epidemiologically largely equivalent sub-lineages of Omicron". "The symptoms of the Omicron variant, which includes the BA.2 lineage, and the Delta variant, are similar," says Dr. Erica Johnson, MD, the chair of the Infectious Disease Board of the . And even if it does become the dominant version of Omicron, it may not actually alter the trajectory of the pandemic in countries that have seen a big wave of BA.1. B.1.1.529 has a large number of mutations in the gene coding for the spike protein, and also in other parts of the viral genome. There are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections and protect those at highest risk. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 22. 2 or Stealth Omicron causes. And in England, more than 1,000 confirmed cases of BA.2 have been identified, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Booster doses also increase the protection against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection which will reduce transmission in the population. In a lot of ways, it's a bad cold, a lot of respiratory symptoms, stuffy nose, coughing, body aches and fatigue," said Dr. Dennis Cunningham, the system medical director of infection control and. The analysis looked at 581 people with confirmed Omicron. It is not unexpected to see new lineages and continued investigation is a normal part of the surveillance of an infectious disease. Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in the UK. This is not an unusual occurrence and several recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified over the course of the pandemic. Everybody who is contacted or has symptoms should take a PCR test as soon as possible, even if they have received a positive COVID-19 PCR test within the last 90 days. The newest COVID variant taking the world by storm is Omicron's stealthy sub-variant BA.2, and it seems to have brought on a new barrage of gastrointestinal symptoms with it. ; The incubation time (time to onset of symptoms) is a bit shorter: 3 days. Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor for UKHSA, said: Ongoing variant analysis is an important part of our pandemic response. In India, BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variants of Covid, BA.2 was first detected in the Philippines, About half of new cases in Denmark are caused by BA.2, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life for double murder, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Zoom boss Greg Tomb fired without cause, US sues Exxon over nooses found at Louisiana plant. It is one for the scientists to watch, rather than for the public to be alarmed about at this stage. Two-thirds with Omicron say they had Covid before. Currently, no experimental data has been reported about BA.2 and BA.3. This is very encouraging. Analysis by the UKHSA suggests it could be substantial, although there is a risk of over-estimating growth advantage in the early stages. How are Covid rules changing across UK schools? The same happened with Omicron, which includes the lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and B.1.1.529. Getty Images BA.2 was. Omicron continues to grow faster than Delta, with an increased risk of transmission, particularly in contacts outside of the household. This particular recombinant, XE, has shown a variable growth rate and we cannot yet confirm whether it has a true growth advantage. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infection at UKHSA, said: It is not unexpected to see new variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerge. But the preliminary assessment found no evidence that vaccines would be any less effective against symptomatic disease for either sub-variant. Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. As part of UKHSAs routine genomic surveillance, approximately 15 to 20% of all positive PCR tests are also sent for sequencing. Although hospitalisations and deaths remain low, cases are still high in some areas and some age groups so its important that we continue to act cautiously as restrictions are lifted. [92] Reactions [ edit] Vaccine producers [ edit] As I previously reported, omicron subvariants have a shorter incubation period, which is why the symptoms may appear earlier. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second or booster jab without delay. UKHSA is constantly monitoring the situation and working to understand the implications for public health. While prevalence remains high, make sure to wear your mask in indoor settings and take a lateral flow test before meeting others. The Delta variant sub-lineage known as Delta AY.4.2 was designated a variant under investigation (VUI) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 20 October 2021 and has been given the official name VUI-21OCT-01. The v BA.2 has been under close . Studies of contacts show that Omicron is transmitting more effectively than Delta. As with previous variants, experts believe vaccines will continue to be highly effective against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death. Once again, we urge everyone who is able to get a booster jab to come forward and do so. Trends in SGTF over and time are however affected by the coverage of laboratories contributing to this surveillance data. Under the new system, the variant of concern (VOC) label will be assigned to variants which are currently emerging or circulating, and which the following characteristics can be confirmed or predicted: 1. The individuals who have tested positive and their contacts have been asked to self-isolate. UKHSA has also published analyses related to the original Omicron strain BA.1. The first sequences were submitted from the Philippines, and most samples have been uploaded from Denmark (6,411). Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: This data is yet more evidence that vaccines remain our best line of defence against COVID-19. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. We continue to monitor all recombinants closely, routinely through our world-leading genomic surveillance and sequencing capability. BA.2.75.2 as a new variant but singled it out as an . Download the data.xlsx. As we learn to live safely with COVID-19, there are actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 and passing it on to others. New sub-lineages within Delta continue to be identified. It is also absolutely critical that we all do what we can to reduce transmission in the community so that we have time to administer as many booster doses as possible. There is evidence that protection against symptomatic disease wanes after the second dose of vaccine, and then improves after the booster. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. Teams nationally and locally are working at pace to identify and trace all close contacts of every Omicron case. Early data shows that young children who are hospitalised experience mild illness and are discharged after short stays in hospital. "We must remain vigilant and take up vaccinations. Lower back pain. A thirddose was associated with a 68% (95% confidence interval 52 to 82%) reduced risk of hospitalisation when compared to similar unvaccinated individuals. For the first time, this data includes analysis on vaccine effectiveness 15+ weeks after the booster dose. Headache. The public health advice is the same for all current variants. However, it should be noted both that this is early data and more research is required to confirm these findings. One case is located in Camden, London, and one case is located in Wandsworth, London. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. Analysis shows that protection against symptomatic disease 2 to 4 weeks after a booster dose ranges from around 65% to 75%, dropping to 55% to 65% at 5 to 9 weeks and 45% to 50% 10 weeks or more following the booster dose. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: The reclassification of these variants as variants of concern reflects emerging evidence on the growth of BA.4 and BA.5 internationally and in the UK. Those aged 18 to 39 should wait to be called. Please come forward to receive your booster as soon as possible. As of 20 December,132individuals with confirmed Omicron have been admitted to or transferred from emergency departments. This is still a very small number of cases but is being investigated carefully to understand whether it is related to travel, any other variant or whether there is evidence of spread of Omicron beginning in the community. BA.2 Symptoms Not That Different From Omicron, Delta. Currently, the Omicron variant has BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, and B.1.1.529 sub-variants, of which the BA.1 was dominant a few months before, and scientists have recently warned about the BA.2 sub-variant . Cases have been confirmed through whole genome sequencing in all 9 regions of England. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against becoming severely ill from this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. In its early days, the variant caused an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in South Africathey went from 300 a day in mid-November 2021 to 3,000 a day at the end of that month. COVID-19 has not gone away, so it is also vitally important that people continue to follow the guidance. So, like the original omicron strain (BA.1), the primary symptoms of a mild BA.2 infection are a cough, fever, fatigue and possible loss of taste or smell. BA.2 omicron symptoms According to the CDC, the symptoms of Covid-19, including BA.2, are: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body. Whilst Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are in the early stages of growth in the UK, analysis of the available data suggests that they are likely to have a growth advantage over the currently-dominant Omicron BA.2 variant. It appears to have a growth advantage compared to the version of Omicron, BA.1, that has swept the globe. Available data are limited at this early stage, but it remains likely that the cases identified so far are a result of a number of separate introductions into the country. What we know is that it is certainly growing as a proportion of overall cases in the UK. According to Denmark's Statens Serum Institut (SSI), BA.2 infections rose to account for about half of the country's reported Covid cases in January. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. The best way that you can protect yourself is to come forward for your first 2 doses of vaccine, or your booster jab and do everything you can to stop onward transmission of the infection. Data and analysis will be released in due course through our regular surveillance reporting. Omicron BA.2 Variant Severity People aged 75 and over remain at particular risk of severe disease if they are not up to date with their vaccinations. Recent studies suggest that BA.2 has a. The pace of sharing sequences by India is very slow, median days from collection to deposition is 69 days according to GISAID. Previous updates were published by Public Health England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest variant technical briefing. Here is what we know about it. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Early analyses suggest an increased growth rate compared to BA.1, however, growth rates have a low level of certainty early in the emergence of a variant and further analysis is needed. However, vaccinated people are still less likely to get infected than unvaccinated individuals, and they are also less likely to pass it on. Xi Jinping is unveiling a new deputy - why it matters, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. With the original version of the omicron variant, which swept across the U.S. at a dizzying speed last winter, the loss of taste and smell was not as common as with the earlier alpha and delta variants. The percentage of people to have received a booster dose will also already be higher in older age groups and those with underlying health conditions due to prioritisation of the rollout so far. Following the change in JCVI advice today, a booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended and will be available at a minimum of 3 months from your last primary course jab. Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and is about 40 percent more infectious than the original Omicron variant. Following the change in Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice yesterday, a booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended at a minimum of 3 months from your last primary course jab. They say its possible that the virus has now changed its pattern and is affecting the stomach. In the age group of 20-50 years, significant severity is not expected. The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: Hospitalisations always lag a few weeks behind infections, therefore it isnt surprising that we have started to see people being admitted to hospital with the Omicron variant. The guidance on vaccination is changing to help all of us bolster our defences in the face of this new variant. SGTF is a useful indicator of the presence of Omicron, because as a rule Delta cases have the S-gene and Omicron cases do not. Of 5,153 individuals identified with an Omicron infection between 1 November and 11 December 2021, 305 were linked to a previous confirmed infection and had an interval from the previous positive test of 90 days or more. Spector shared a list of symptom prevalence from people who had tested positive for COVID, most of whom were estimated to have caught BA.2, he said. A further 3 cases have been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 13. Read about our approach to external linking. Studies have also shown that Omicron infects and multiplies in the upper airways 70 times faster than the previous Delta variant. In addition, UKHSA has published data which shows the detection of cases exhibiting S-gene target failure (SGTF) in recent weeks across the country. Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Whilst the impact of these variants is uncertain, the variant classification system aims to identify potential risk as early as possible. Omicron BA.2.75, the variant derived from the BA.2 lineage which was identified internationally earlier this month, has now been categorised as a separate variant and given the.