Covid-19: Dr. Fauci urges caution over two new Omicron sub-variants, should we be worried?

On Friday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president’s chief medical adviser, warned people that the new Omicron sub-variants are gaining traction at a ‘pretty troublesome’ rate.

In the month since a new Omicron variant known as BQ.1 was first identified, that strain and a descendant called BQ.1.1 have already emerged to make up more than 10% of new infections across the country, in a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as per CNBC .

Omicron

In the week ending 15 October the number of cases of this particular variant increased dramatically, having being so insignificant the previous week they did not even make it onto the list. In an interview with CBS News Dr Fauci stated:

When you get variants like that, you look at what their rate of increase is as a relative proportion of the variants, and this has a pretty troublesome doubling time.

It is not known if these variants will become the main dominant strain in the country but at the rate they are growing it is feared they could reverse the nationwide decline in cases. This could then result in more hospitalizations and deaths and so Dr. Fauci is still urging caution.

Not over yet

The news follows other reports of epidemiologists and public health experts warning that Americans shouldbrace themselves for a resurgence of Covid-19 infections in the coming autumn and winter months. Dr. Fauci went on to say on CBS News:

As much as you want to feel good about the fact that cases are down, hospitalizations are down, we don’t want to declare victory too prematurely. And that’s the reason why we’ve got to keep our eye out on these emerging variants.

However, in the face of all this uncertainty there is room for some optimism, with Dr. Fauci stating that there are reasons to believe that with an increased rollout of the new bivalent vaccines people will have an extra boost of protection.

Sources used:

- CBSNews '"Pretty troublesome": New COVID variant BQ.1 now makes up 1 in 10 cases nationwide, CDC estimates'

- CNBC 'Dr. Fauci: These 2 new fast-spreading omicron Covid subvariants are ‘pretty troublesome’'

Read more:

⋙ Covid-19: Pandemic is 'not over' as rising cases suggest new wave

⋙ Covid-19: Should you get the seasonal booster this autumn?

⋙ A new COVID variant has emerged, should we be worried?