The Omicron subvariant BA.2 is more contagious, but those vaccinated are less likely to spread it.
That’s according to a new study in Denmark. Here in the United States — the daily death toll from Covid-19 rose to an average of more than 24-hundred over the previous week. That’s up 39% over the past two weeks — the highest level in about a year, according to Johns Hopkins University. But some parts of the country are seeing encouraging signs, with cases and hospitalizations declining. And then there’s this – Pfizer is seeking emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the first coronavirus vaccine for children under 5.
To discuss the latest developments:
- Chris Smith is a consulting Virologist at the University of Cambridge and co-presenter of “The Naked Scientists” podcast.
- Gavin Macgregor-Skinner is senior director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council and an infectious disease expert.
- Wilmot James is a former member of the South African parliament and Shadow Health Minister. He’s currently a senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy.
- William Haseltine is the chair and president of ACCESS Health International, and author of “Variants! The Shape-Shifting Challenge of COVID-19.”
For more:
Pfizer seeks FDA emergency use authorization for its Covid-19 vaccine in kids as young as 6 monthshttps://t.co/FD8dyqCMeO
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 1, 2022
The emerging BA.2 form of the Omicron coronavirus variant does not seem to be any more severe than the original, the World Health Organization said, as the subvariant begins to replace Omicron's more common original BA.1 in several countries https://t.co/NSIy42B0k9 pic.twitter.com/gwz67X9nAo
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 1, 2022