Jul 6, 2022 - COVID
Contagious subvariants dominate COVID-19 rates
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Highly contagious BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants now make up more than 70% of all COVID-19 cases in the Region 5 area that includes Chicago.
- The rate is calculated by running thousands of samples through genomic sequencing.
Why it matters: The subvariants appear to be able to reinfect vaccinated people and even those who've recovered from recent Omicron infections.
- They have also driven infection surges in South Africa and are gaining prevalence in Europe.
By the numbers: The Great Lakes states making up Region 5 are reporting an average of around 77,000 cases a week, but those figures don't count home tests.
What's next: An FDA committee is considering a vaccine strategy to protect against the subvariants, but the timetable is unclear.