Contagious COVID-19 subvariants dominate rates in Ohio
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Highly contagious BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants now make up more than 70% of all COVID-19 cases in the CDC's Region 5 area, which includes Columbus.
- 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've also driven infection surges in South Africa and are gaining prevalence in Europe.
The latest: Cases in Ohio have stayed mostly flat over the past three weeks, with a daily recorded average of about 2,360, according to the state's online dashboard.
Yes, but: Those figures don't include at-home tests.
What's next: An FDA committee is considering a vaccine strategy to protect against the subvariants, but the timetable is unclear, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim and Tina Reed report.