A subvariant of Ômicron, BA.2, is leading to a new wave of Covid-19 infections across Europe. Cases in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and other countries are on the rise, driven by this highly transmissible strain of coronavirus.
The proportion of Covid-19 cases due to BA.2 also increases in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 35% of new coronavirus cases are due to this subvariant.
At the same time, restrictions are being eased and no US state requires mask mandatory anymore (although masks are still required in some places, including airports, public transportation, hospitals, nursing homes, some schools and workplaces). ).
How worried should people be about the BA.2 variant? Do vaccines protect against it? What if someone contracted an earlier variant – could they be reinfected? Is BA.2 lighter than previous versions, and if so, should people try to pick it up? Could BA.2 cause another increase in the US, and is it time to go back with restrictions?
To help us with these questions, we spoke with the medical analyst at CNN, Leana Wen, emergency physician and professor of health policy and management in the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. She is also the author of “Lifelines: A Doctor’s Journey in the Fight for Public Health”.
CNN: What do we know about BA.2, and how concerned should we be?
Leana Wen: With any new variant or subvariant, we need to ask three questions: is it more contagious? Does it cause more serious illness? And escape the protection of our vaccines?
BA.2 is related to BA.1, which is the original Omicron subvariant that led to the large increase in winter cases here in the US and across Europe. BA.1 has swept through communities because of how contagious it is. BA.2 appears to be even more contagious than BA.1. The UK Health Safety Agency estimates that BA.2 is growing 80% faster than BA.1. Also here in the US, BA.2 appears to be on its way to overtaking BA.1 to become the dominant variant.
The good news is that BA.2 does not appear to cause more serious illness than BA.1. UK and Danish researchers have found that BA.2 causes a comparable level of hospitalization to BA.1, which is less likely to result in serious illness than the previously dominant Delta variant.
Also, the vaccines we have are still effective. Although vaccination may not protect as well against BA.1 and BA.2 infection, efficacy is partially restored with a booster dose, and the vaccines continue to provide very good protection against serious illness by both subvariants of Omicron.
What all this tells me is that public health experts should closely monitor the rise of BA.2 in the US, but that most people shouldn’t be concerned. The US is likely to see a spike in Covid-19 cases in the coming weeks as this is the pattern we’ve seen before – that we lag behind the UK and Europe by a few weeks, so the spike they’re seeing could be mirrored. on here. However, most people who are vaccinated and, in particular, given a booster, are unlikely to become seriously ill from BA.2.
Our government officials must prepare for what may be coming and increase the availability of tests and treatments, and continue to ask people to receive vaccines and boosters. But I don’t think that’s something the general public should be overly concerned about at this point.
CNN: Does that mean people can go ahead with travel plans, or do they have to postpone them?
Wen: I don’t think travel plans need to be postponed. To be sure, there is uncertainty as some places may have low Covid-19 rates now, but may have increased rates when you travel. However, that could be the case in the near future. Very few activities we do have no risk. Traveling certainly involves risk, but you can reduce that risk by making sure you are vaccinated and boosted. Wearing a mask in crowded indoor environments further reduces the risk.
In the United States, follow CDC guidelines and be sure to wear a mask in areas with high levels of community transmission of Covid-19. If you’re planning an international trip, be aware of the rules, including whether you need proof of vaccination or a recent negative test.
CNN: Are there people who should be concerned about BA.2?
Wen: Individuals who are very vulnerable to serious illness from Covid-19 despite vaccination should be concerned about coronavirus in general as they already have other infectious pathogens. For most people, infection with Covid-19 will result in mild illness, but in some people — those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised or with multiple underlying medical conditions — the infection can still result in hospitalization.
BA-2 may not cause more serious illness than BA-1, but because of how contagious it is, particularly vulnerable people will want to continue to take extra precautions. This includes wearing a high quality mask (N95, KN95 or KF94) in all indoor public settings, avoiding large crowds and traveling only for essential reasons. Before meeting with others, they may request that others be tested for Covid-19.
CNN: If someone has had Omicron, is they protected against BA.2?
Wen: The World Health Organization said that infection with BA.1 continues to provide protection against BA.2. Reinfection with BA.2 after having BA.1 is rare.
Most people don’t find out which variant they had, although this can be estimated based on when they were infected. If someone found out they had Covid-19 during the initial Omicron outbreak, they likely have BA.1. In that case, especially if they are also vaccinated, it is very unlikely that they will contract BA.2.
However, if someone was previously infected during another wave, for example, while Delta was predominant, they could still contract BA.1 or BA.2. This is another reason why vaccination is so crucial, because the combination of vaccination and prior infection provides more consistent and more durable protection than prior infection alone.
CNN: Omicron is a lighter variant than previous variants. In that case, should people try to get BA.2 just to get it over with?
Wen: Generally, it’s not a good strategy to try to get a disease. Omicron is less likely to result in serious illness compared to Delta, but it still causes serious illness in some people. Furthermore, even a mild illness can be very unpleasant and result in malaise, absence from work and inability to care for family members for days. You can also infect other people and there is also the possibility of long lasting symptoms. An best strategy is to guarantee the vaccine and the booster so that if you find BA.2 (or another variant of the new coronavirus) you are as protected as possible.
CNN: Could BA.2 cause another increase in the US, and if so, should restrictions go back now?
Wen: BA.2 could certainly lead to another spike in Covid-19 infections in the US. There are already some signs that the sharp decline in new cases is leveling off, and if the US follows Europe as before, a spike in cases could take weeks.
That said, I don’t think that means we need to reinstate restrictions. The purpose of vaccination is to decouple infections from hospitalizations and serious illness. If there is an increase in infections, but hospitalizations don’t get to the point where our healthcare system is overwhelmed, I think the rules imposed by the government are not justified. The CDC’s new guidelines are very helpful, as they factor in serious illness—severe enough to cause hospitalizations—as a metric for mask wear, not just any infection.
Obviously, Just because the government isn’t requiring masks doesn’t mean individuals shouldn’t wear masks. or take other precautions. At this point in the pandemic, people must make decisions based on their own medical circumstances and risk tolerance.
Basic care helps prevent Covid-19
Source: CNN Brasil
