CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The new Omicron COVID sub-variant is surging in some places around the world and Governor Pritzker says state public health experts are watching it closely.
Governor Pritzker says the BA-2 Omicron sub-variant was first detected in Illinois in January. It’s said to be 30-50% more transmissible than the already fast spreading original Omicron variant. He says it’s estimated that 25% of the COVID cases in the state are BA-2.
“ IDPH is watching the trend of this sub-variant very closely. The virus is still very much here with us and it isn’t going away but with vaccines and with the existing variants that we have, they’re manageable,” said Governor Pritzker on Monday.
But the governor says Illinois is in a good place right now with the number of cases and hospitalizations stabilizing and dropping. He suggests school districts be prepared with a strong testing program should there be a BA-2 surge in Illinois.
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