Infectious disease expert: New subvariant of Omicron is more transmissible, but not more dangerous

Stealth Omicron, or BA.2, could be the next prominent coronavirus variant in the country, medical experts say.

News 12 Staff

Mar 19, 2022, 2:41 AM

Updated 932 days ago

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A new sub-variant of COVID-19 is significantly increasing across New York.
Stealth Omicron, or BA.2, could be the next prominent coronavirus variant in the country, medical experts say.
Chair of Infection Control Service at Huntington Hospital Northwell Dr. Adrian Popp says the prevalence of COVID is "very low" in the country, but there is some concern that BA2 is more transmissible and could bring an increase COVID rate.
The symptoms of stealth Omicron are very similar to Omicron--having a cough, a little shortness of breath, a fever and feeling rundown.
Dr. Popp says it appears to spread faster than the original Omicron variant.
"It does not seem to cause more severe disease, it does not seem to cause more hospitalizations," Popp says. "It's just more transmissible than the older variant."
Long Islanders say seeing another sure in coronavirus cases is probably something we are going to be living with.
"It's the unknown," says Jericho resident Larry Amanuel. "We really don't know what's going to happen at this point..."
Popp tells News 12 being vaccinated and boosted is effective against the new stranded.