One individual diagnosed in hospital has sadly died. Our data shows that LFD tests are similarly able to detect COVID-19 in individuals who have been exposed to Omicron as in those exposed to previous variants. The population rate of people becoming infected with Omicron after having previously contracted COVID-19 has increased sharply. We expect the vaccines to show higher protection against the serious complications of COVID-19, so if you havent yet had your first 2 doses please book an appointment straight away. The latest variant technical briefing suggests that Omicron continues to grow rapidly in all regions of England as measured by confirmed cases and S gene target failure (SGTF). This data shows that protection against severe illness from COVID-19 remains at over 90% in those aged 65 and over up to 14 weeks after a booster dose. This is consistent with analysis published yesterday by Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh. Neither BQ.1 nor XBB have been designated as variants of concern and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, as always. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 13. Data for the devolved administrations will follow in due course. There have been recent reports of people who experience symptoms like those of viral meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant so please get your first, second, third or booster jab as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. March 31, 2022. A thirddose was associated with a 68% (95% confidence interval 52 to 82%) reduced risk of hospitalisation when compared to similar unvaccinated individuals. Due to the early nature of the findings, all estimates are subject to significant uncertainty and are subject to change. Even if a smaller proportion of these individuals require hospitalisation, these are still large numbers of people requiring hospital care and pressures on the NHS will increase. As of January 10 2022, 53 sequences of the BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron had been identified in the United Kingdom. Nine cases have also been identified in Scotland, with 5 cases in the Lanarkshire area and 4 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. The worst symptom is a "throat on fire," said University of California, San Francisco's Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. I urge you to come forward as soon as youre eligible to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Scientists in the UK and abroad are closely monitoring BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron. We have started to see cases where there are no links to travel, suggesting that we have a small amount of community transmission. Thanks to the expertise of scientists at UKHSA and partner organisations, were able to respond quickly to new variations of the virus. Genome sequencing among the states is not always fair. pic.twitter.com/ESQupxUet4. Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: The reclassification of these variants as variants of concern reflects emerging evidence on the growth of BA.4 and BA.5 internationally and in the UK. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Our data also show that 17.5 per cent of people aged 75 years and over have not had a vaccine within the past six months, putting them more at risk of severe disease. There is evidence that protection against symptomatic disease wanes after the second dose of vaccine, and then improves after the booster. As is routine for any new variants under investigation, UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the properties of this variant. A separate UK study also found higher transmissibility for BA.2 compared to BA.1. Cases have been confirmed through whole genome sequencing in all 9 regions of England. There is currently insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about growth advantage or other properties of this variant. Of those with Omicron, 9.5% have had COVID-19 before, which is likely to be a substantial underestimate of the proportion of reinfections, as many prior infections will have been asymptomatic and not picked up by the analysis. BQ.1 (V-22OCT-01) is a BA.5 sub-lineage which has been designated on the basis of rapid growth. Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. Following the first 2 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 on 27 November, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified one further case of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in the UK. So, like the original omicron strain (BA.1), the primary symptoms of a mild BA.2 infection are a cough, fever, fatigue and possible loss of taste or smell. As with previous variants, experts believe vaccines will continue to be highly effective against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. As we cautiously return to Plan A, I encourage you to give yourself and your loved ones the best protection possible and Get Boosted Now. Ongoing analysis by UKHSA has found no evidence that infection with Omicron BA.2 results in a greater risk of hospitalisation, compared to Omicron BA.1. In the UK, 38 cases of XF have been identified, though none have been seen since mid February. Consider wearing a face covering when in crowded places. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. It remains vital that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. However, any stay in hospital for a child is too long if youre a parent and its important we all take precautions to avoid the spread of infection. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. Wear a mask in crowded spaces and, when meeting people indoors, open windows and doors to ventilate the room. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published analyses of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2. Although there was a rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections in care homes during December 2021 in line with case rises in the community, there has not been an associated increase in hospital admissions. Experts say BA.2 symptoms don't seem to be all that distinct from original Omicron (BA.1) or the immediately preceding Delta variant. This is not an unusual occurrence and several recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified over the course of the pandemic. In a lot of ways, it's a bad cold, a lot of respiratory symptoms, stuffy nose, coughing, body aches and fatigue," said Dr. Dennis Cunningham, the system medical director of infection control and. People infected with Omicron are also less likely to experience fever or loss of taste and smell. The areas with the largest number of confirmed cases are London (146) and the South East (97). We have seen a rise in hospital admissions in line with community infections but vaccinations are continuing to keep ICU admissions and deaths at low levels. So far, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether BA.2 causes more severe illness than Omicron BA.1, but data is limited and UKHSA continues to investigate. UKHSA is monitoring this closely. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 29. BA.2 infections in Germany are also growing faster than BA.1 and Delta, according to Dr Meera Chand, Covid-19 director at the UKHSA. Yet fears of another Omicron wave in the United States may be. While on one hand, this statement gives a ray of hope that BA.2 sub variant of Omicron which was thought to be severe is mild as the BA.1 subvariant is, but on the other hand with the report of . As of 20 December,132individuals with confirmed Omicron have been admitted to or transferred from emergency departments. The genome of VUI-21OCT-01 does not have many mutations compared to Delta. According to Boden-Albala said, those symptoms may include the following: Fever Chills Fatigue Cough Body aches Shortness of breath Sore throat Additionally, some people may report upper. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a new variant technical briefing containing an updated Omicron risk assessment, alongside analysis on vaccine efficacy, sub-lineages and symptoms. Earlier COVID-19 variants affected the lung tissue more and had a higher likelihood of causing pneumonia and other severe outcomes. It appears to have a growth advantage compared to the version of Omicron, BA.1, that has swept the globe. Apart from dizziness and fatigue, some other signs of BA.2 Omicron Variants include: Fever and body aches Loss of taste Nausea or Vomiting Abdominal pain Fever Extreme fatigue Coughing Sore throat Muscular fatigue Elevated heart rate Breathless in severe cases readmore End of Story Omicron continues to grow faster than Delta, with an increased risk of transmission, particularly in contacts outside of the household. Although hospitalisations and deaths remain low, cases are still high in some areas and some age groups so its important that we continue to act cautiously as restrictions are lifted. UKHSAs latest National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report indicates that the increase in COVID-19 case rates and hospitalisations continues to show signs of slowing. As prevalence increases, its more important than ever that we all remain alert, take precautions, and ensure that were up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, which remain our best form of defence against the virus. It is the best defence we have against this highly transmissible new variant. It is never too late to come forward for your first dose and its vital that everyone comes forward to get boosted now as we head into the new year. moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at high risk of . Omicron BA2 symptoms include taste loss. Wear a mask in crowded places, including public transport and shops, to ensure we all help break the chains of transmission and slow the spread of this new variant. You will not always know whether someone you come into contact with is at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to detect them and assess whether they are significant. Following the change in Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice yesterday, a booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended at a minimum of 3 months from your last primary course jab. When the reduced risk of hospitalisation was combined with vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease, the vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation was estimated as 52% after one dose, 72% 2 to 24 weeks after dose 2, 52% 25+ weeks after dose 2 and 88% 2 weeks after a booster dose. Omicron BA.2 lacks the genetic deletion on the spike protein which produces S-gene target failure (SGTF) in some polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which has been used as a proxy for Omicron cases previously. Everybody who is contacted or has symptoms should take aPCRtest as soon as possible, even if they have received a positive COVID-19PCRtest within the last 90 days. 2. Until the week beginning 23 November 2021, the weekly count of cases with SGTF was routinely less than 150, making up less than 0.1% of all cases. Whilst there are insufficient data to quantify either vaccine effectiveness or risk of reinfection in the UK exactly, the observed growth, case distribution and early analyses in both South Africa and the UK are consistent with some loss of immune protection against infection. Where individualsare suspected or confirmed to have theOmicron variantas the result of testing, their close contacts will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, required to self-isolate and asked to take aPCRtest,regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. Our exceptional vaccine rollout means the number of people severely affected by COVID-19 is low, and the UKs innovation and research has discovered life-saving treatments for those most at risk from COVID-19. An individual with Omicron is estimated to be between 31 and 45% less likely to attend A&E compared to Delta, and 50 to 70% less likely to be admitted to hospital. So how worried should we be about this emerging variant? This analysis excludes individuals with confirmed previous COVID-19 infection. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. Until we have this evidence, we must exercise the highest level of caution in drawing conclusions about any significant risks to peoples health. That contrasts to Denmark, where it has become dominant. XBB (V-22OCT-02) is a recombinant lineage derived from 2 previous Omicron sublineages. So far, there have been 717 V-22OCT-01 sequences uploaded from the UK to the international GISAID database. We urge these people in particular to get up-to-date. UKHSA is undertaking further detailed studies. Over 40% of hospital admissions were in London. Omicron sublineages BQ.1 and XBB have been given UKHSA variant designations to facilitate continued studies. Trends in SGTF over and time are however affected by the coverage of laboratories contributing to this surveillance data. Overall numbers of ICU admissions have decreased over time, but where data was available admissions with Omicron have increased from 9% to more than 50% in the most recent week. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. The latest Omicron SARS-CoV-2 subvariant, which scientists have labeled BA.2.12.1, is on track to become the most virulent strain in the United States currently. BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause More Severe Disease Than You Can Expect: Study BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause More Severe Disease Than You Can. UKHSA will continue to monitor the situation closely as a matter of routine, as we do all data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants both in the UK and internationally. The original Delta variant remains overwhelmingly dominant in the UK, making up approximately 99.8% of all cases. UKHSA analysis shows that the risk of hospital admission for an identified case with Omicron is reduced compared to a case of Delta. While evidence is still emerging, so far it does not appear this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective. In severe cases, the SpO2 Level may also decrease. Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report, higher risk of becoming seriously ill from respiratory infections, including COVID-19, this data should be interpreted with caution, This assessment is based on analysis of UK data, data on Omicron cases is published regularly here, Six cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529, Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: variant risk assessments, Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants: technical briefings, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for local government, let fresh air in if meeting others indoors, wear a face covering or a face mask, particularly if you are in crowded and enclosed spaces. We constantly assess the genetic diversity within the known variants of concern (VOCs) to inform our ongoing public health response to the pandemic. It is critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. UKHSA, in partnership with scientific bodies across the globe, is constantly monitoring the status of SARS-CoV-2 variants as they emerge and develop worldwide. New sub-lineages within Delta continue to be identified. Evidence continues to show that Omicron is transmitting more rapidly than the dominant Delta variant. Both are variants in the Omicron family. Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor for UKHSA, said: Ongoing variant analysis is an important part of our pandemic response. To date, there have been 426 cases of Omicron BA.2 confirmed by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), with the earliest dated 6 December 2021. A second BTN162b2 booster was previously found to be 52% and 72% effective in preventing Omicron BA.1 infection and hospitalization, respectively, in adults 60 years. 2023 BBC. After 2 doses, vaccine effectiveness was 9% and 13% respectively for BA.1 and BA.2, after 25+ weeks. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VUI). The most important thing everyone can do now is to get any vaccine dose that you are eligible for it is by far the most effective action you can take to protect yourself, your families and your communities. It is already the dominant variant in several states and likely drove the country's recent third wave of infections. Genomes have now been uploaded from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong but the extent of spread is not yet determined. "It's important to know and recognize all of the. According to Baric, Omicron is the first SARS-CoV-2 variant to evolve in the context of mounting immunity in the populationthe result of vaccines and prior infection with other forms of the . Delta and Omicron Cases are being eclipsed by BA2 Variant rapidly. However, some experts believe that BA.2 doesn't present symptoms different from the original Omicron. BA.2 is found to be able to alarmingly reinfect patients originally infected by Omicron BA.1. Any variants showing evidence of spread are rapidly assessed. Those aged 18 to 39 should wait to be called. One of the most common symptoms of the Omicron subvariant BA.2 is nausea. UKHSA is updating its variant classification system to give a clearer indication of which variants have significant changes compared to the current dominant variant. Data and analysis will be released in due course through our regular surveillance reporting. As set out last week, the effectiveness of all vaccines against symptomatic infection continues to be lower in all periods against Omicron compared to Delta. XBB.1.5 remains at very low prevalence in the UK, so estimates of growth are highly uncertain. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 104. There are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections and protect those at highest risk. As part of UKHSAs routine genomic surveillance, approximately 15 to 20% of all positive PCR tests are also sent for sequencing. UKHSAreleases weekly updates on the number of confirmed new cases of variants of concern and variants under investigation identified in the UK. Many people who have Omicron say it feels like a common cold, and here are the 8 early warning signs you need to look out for. Here is what we know about it. The five key Omicron symptoms. While BA.1 and BA.2 are similar, they are 20 mutations apart. So far there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about transmissibility, severity or vaccine effectiveness. This is more promising data which reinforces just how important vaccines are. The analysis looked at 581 people with confirmed Omicron. Our findings suggest the current wave of Omicron infections is unlikely to lead to a major surge in severe disease in care home populations with high levels of vaccine coverage and/or natural immunity. Inthe SIREN study, a large cohort of healthcare workers are tested regularly by PCR to detect asymptomatic infection in addition to normal testing practices for symptomatic infection. Well send you a link to a feedback form. What are the symptoms of BA.2? Overall, the original Omicron lineage, BA.1, is dominant in the UK and the proportion of BA.2 cases is currently low. UKHSAs latest analysis suggests that Omicron BA.5 is growing 35.1% faster than Omicron BA.2, while Omicron BA.4 is growing approximately 19.1% faster. Currently, approximately half of all tests conducted in the UK are able to detect SGTF. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Taste Lost is one of the Omicron BA2 Symptoms. Omicron soon began branching off into a number of subvariants: BA.2 took off in the spring, and BA.5 came to dominate towards the end of the summer. Those mutations are shared with the original omicron, but BA.2 also has . It includes a complete list of studies planned and already under way into the emerging variant. Things you can choose to do are: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has elevated the classification of the COVID-19 variants Omicron BA.4 and Omicron BA.5 to variants of concern (VOCs) on the basis of observed growth. The variant technical briefing also includes updated analysis on Omicron BA.2, currently the dominant variant in the UK. There is currently no data on the severity of BA.2. Added breakdown of cases by local authority to latest update. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? This is still a very small number of cases but is being investigated carefully to understand whether it is related to travel, any other variant or whether there is evidence of spread of Omicron beginning in the community. Of 5,153 individuals identified with an Omicron infection between 1 November and 11 December 2021, 305 were linked to a previous confirmed infection and had an interval from the previous positive test of 90 days or more. The individuals that have tested positive are not connected to each other and are not linked to the previously confirmed cases. There are no confirmed cases in Northern Ireland. Xi Jinping is unveiling a new deputy - why it matters, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Vaccination remains our best defence against future COVID-19 waves, so it is still as important as ever that people come take up all the doses for which they are eligible as soon as possible. As always, the booster vaccine remains the best protection against infection. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 5. More recent data on Omicron cases is published regularly here. How are Covid rules changing across UK schools? If you have symptoms take a PCR test and isolate at home until you receive a negative result. An important question is whether BA.2 or BA.3 will become a new dominating "variant of concern". Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. It is therefore absolutely critical that we all do everything that we can to help break the chains of transmission and slow the spread of this new variant. Please make sure you follow all the available guidance. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released variant technical briefing 50. These changes will take effect as of 1 April 2022 and will be reflected in full in future technical briefings. Vaccine effectiveness against severe disease from Omicron is not yet known but is expected to be significantly higher than protection against symptomatic disease. Studies have also shown that Omicron infects and multiplies in the upper airways 70 times faster than the previous Delta variant. In England, the infection rate increased in those aged 25 years to 49 years and those aged 70 years and over in the week ending 21 February 2023. It is also vital to continue with all the other precautions we have become used to throughout the pandemic keep indoor areas well ventilated, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces, and take a rapid lateral flow (or LFD) test before a situation where you may be at high risk of catching or passing on the virus. More investigation is required to fully determine the extent of these mutations impact. Since BA.2 is a sub-strain of the Omicron variant, it is expected that its symptoms will be similar. The study also showed evidence to suggest that the BA.2 sub-variant is better able to evade vaccines. As with other kinds of variant, most will die off relatively quickly. In a subgroup analysis of 4,800 people who were triple-vaccinated and infected with an omicron variant, the authors found that people with BA.2 were 64 percent more likely than BA.1-infected . Getting your booster jab remains the most effective way of protecting yourself and others from infection and severe disease. Anewrisk assessment for OmicronVOC-21NOV-01 (B.1.1.529)has also been published and is available here. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 24. 1. Cases are currently very high in the UK, and even a relatively low proportion requiring hospitalisation could result in a significant number of people becoming seriously ill. Where variant information was available, the majority of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions from 24 November 2021 to 19 January 2022 had Delta infections. B.1.1.529 has a large number of mutations in the gene coding for the spike protein, and also in other parts of the viral genome. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest variant technical briefing. Twoto4 weeks after a booster dose, vaccine effectiveness ranged from around 65 to 75%, dropping to 55 to 70% at 5 to 9 weeks and 40 to 50% from 10+ weeks after the booster. Initial data suggests that LFDs are as likely to detect Omicron as other variants including Delta, which has been the dominant variant in the UK from May to December 2021. New studies are being undertaken to assess this further. BA2 Variant is overtaking Delta and Omicron Cases at rapid speed. Once again, we urge everyone who is able to get a booster jab to come forward and do so. Both have links to travel to Southern Africa. According to the COVID Symptom Study, the five most common symptoms are the same: Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. Six cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 have also been identified in Scotland, with 4 cases in the Lanarkshire area and 2 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Runny or congested nose Feeling fatigued Headache New, continuous cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Muscle or body aches New loss of a sense of taste or smell Sore throat Nausea or vomiting Diarrhoea They advise that if you develop one or more of these symptoms you should take a Covid test as soon as possible.