LOS ANGELES (KNX) — Los Angeles County public health officials said they believe a winter surge of COVID-19 cases fueled by the spread of the Omicron variant appears to be subsiding.
However, four cases of an Omicron “sub-variant” that has spread rapidly in other countries have been identified locally.
County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer confirmed Thursday that although the original Omicron variant still makes up more than 98% of cases sequenced in the area in January, the sub-variant, known as BA.2, could lead to another surge.
"We don't yet know how BA.2 might be different than other Omicron lineages, and scientists will be working rapidly in the coming weeks to learn more about immune evasion, severity and transmissibility," Ferrer said.
The public health director said it was still too early to take action on a BA.2 variant, as the extent of its impact remained to be seen. But it and other COVID-19 variants stand a chance of emerging down the line, continuing the virus’ spread as the world enters its third year of the pandemic.
Continued adherence to virus-control measures, like masking and social distancing, as well as vaccines and boosters, remained crucial to combating the virus’ spread, Ferrer said.
"It's very possible there could be another variant of concern in the future that can spread easily and contribute to another surge," Ferrer said. “Getting as many people vaccinated as soon as possible can help us sustain the declines we’re seeing and limit opportunities in the future for new variants to arise.”
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