Omicron subvariant raises eyebrows as numbers improve

Colorado's daily COVID case counts are now under 1,000 and the positivity rate is below the 5% benchmark, the latest numbers show, indicating major improvement.

Yes, but: The expectation of new COVID variants is tempering enthusiasm as experts eye Omicron subvariant BA.2, writes Axios' Tina Reed writes.

• It's believed the Omicron subvariant is roughly 30% more transmissible than the original strain, WHO reported — but it may not cause more severe disease than the original Omicron strain.
• A pre-print study out of Denmark found the subvariant is capable of reinfecting individuals who'd recently had the Omicron or Delta strains, though the phenomenon was uncommon.

Zoom in: Colorado has identified 58 cases of the subvariant, less than 1% of total cases in the first week of February.

• State public health experts tell Axios Denver the evidence suggests the subvariant "may prolong the Omicron surge, but appears unlikely to cause a new surge."

The big picture: The U.S. is averaging roughly 82,000 new COVID cases per day — a 64% drop over the past two weeks, Axios reports.