Omicron subtype BA.2 continues to assert itself nationwide: What does this mean for the measures being taken?

A study indicates an even higher risk of infection from the omicron subtype BA.2. This is already catching on in Germany.

Berlin – For almost two years now, everyone has been annoyed by mutations and variants of the corona virus*. That is certainly understandable. But the situation in view of the falling corona measures has probably not yet reached a level where carelessness is appropriate – at least if you look at the new infections. These are currently reaching record levels in Germany.

The BA.2 subtype of the omicron variant* also accounts for an ever-increasing proportion of new infections. A study from Japan may have found the reason for this. And even if BA.1 and BA2. both are omicron, experts agree that one should keep an eye on the subtype.

Did the easing come too early? Record values for new corona infections

In Germany it is relaxed. More and more corona measures are to be taken, while the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports new infections at a level that represents record values in the entire pandemic – most recently on March 10th with 262,752 new cases. In Bavaria, the seven-day incidence on Monday (March 14) is 1,990.7. However, a return to tougher measures does not seem to be planned.

The RKI attributed the development of the key figures to the reduced containment measures and the new subtype of the omicron variant. “It can be assumed that the current renewed increase in transmitted COVID-19 cases is due to the easier transferability of subline BA.2 and the withdrawal of contact-reducing measures,” said the RKI’s last weekly report on Thursday (March 10). . The report also stated that the proportion of the subtype has increased from around 36 percent to 48 percent. The question is how hard the omicron subtype BA.2 could hit us.

Study on omicron subtype BA.2: 1.4 times more contagious than BA.1

A study from Japan, which was published as a preprint, could provide the insights that explain the current development. The researchers came to the conclusion that the new subtype could be 1.4 times more contagious than the omicron variant, which was able to establish itself first. This means that a person who gets infected with BA.2 can, on average, infect more people than someone who gets infected with BA.1. The study also classifies that subtype BA.2 prevails over BA.1.

These findings support the assumption that the number of new infections could continue to rise for the time being if the new subtype continues to gain acceptance. In any case, for experts, the subtype BA.2 is something to watch with attention.

Omicron subtype BA.2: Experts urge caution

“We have to keep a very close eye on BA.2,” writes the scientific director of the Divi intensive care register, Christian Karagiannidis, on Twitter. In connection with the findings of the Japanese study, he also speaks of the fact that there are also “biological differences to BA.1”.

The advance of the new omicron subtype, in combination with the easing of the measures, poses a risk. Virologist Martin Stürmer* told FOCUS Online that they came “much too early”. The numbers in February “were still at extremely high levels” when the easing began. It was also foreseeable that BA.2 would spread faster. “We knew that, but the politicians ignored it and opened the door to BA.2 with this relaxation,” says Stürmer.

The virologist also points out that there are indications that a new infection with BA.2 could be possible despite an infection with BA.1. He warns that if this fact were to “be true on a larger scale”, the subtype could develop into a “bigger problem”. Nevertheless, he hopes that the health system will not be overburdened.

Rising infection numbers and rising death tolls: How will BA.2 impact?

With an even more infectious variant of the corona virus, the questions that have long occupied the world are being raised again. Which measures make sense? How dangerous is the virus or the dominant variant really? These are questions that unfortunately can only be answered in the long term.

With regard to the number of deaths, no record values are currently being reported in Germany. Even if the numbers are steadily increasing slightly, no values are reported at the levels recorded in January or December 2021. In Denmark, which has had no measures since the beginning of February, the number of deaths seems to be rising significantly. The health authority of our neighboring country gives a banal reason for this development. (mda) *Merkur is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

Header list image: © dpa / ZUMA Press Wire | Andre M. Chang