A new Omicron variant called XBB.1.5 is rapidly spreading across the nation.
The US government has extended public health emergency status for COVID-19 through Jan. 11, 2023. The extension comes as cases of the XBB subvariant pop up in the Northeastern US.
According to data from the CDC, XBB was responsible for 52.6% of cases in New England from Dec. 18 to Dec. 24.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that XBB does not “diverge sufficiently” from the overall omicron phenotype to warrant its designation and remains part of Omicron… which continues to be a “variant of concern.”
New Omicron Variant Accounts for 40.5% of the Cases in the US
The omicron subvariant XBB has spread to become the dominant COVID-19 mutation in the US. According to surveillance conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the new variant accounts for 40.5% of all cases.
The XBB is a recombinant of two subvariants that fell from the BA.2 omicron subvariant. It carries genetic data from two versions of the coronavirus that originated from the BA.2 subvariant.
Regionally, XBB now accounts for the majority of COVID-19 cases in the northeast. Moreover, it caused 75 percent of COVID patients in New England and the New York tri-state area.
Data on XBB is currently limited. However, researchers from Columbia University found that sublineages of the BQ and XBB omicron subvariants… had a “dramatically increased” ability to evade antibody protection.
The researchers noted in their article, “However, it is important to emphasize that although infections may now be more likely [present]… COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to remain effective at preventing hospitalization and severe disease even against Omicron… as well as possibly reducing the risk of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC or long COVID).”
The new variant was first identified in November. It has quickly spread across the nation. Experts are concerned that infection rates could spike even further after the holidays.
Biden Announces New COVID Test Requirements on China Travelers
The Biden administration announced a new COVID-19 testing policy for air travelers coming from China… just as the communist government is rolling back its strict COVID policies.
The new CDC order affects any travelers coming from China. It requires travelers to obtain a negative COVID-19 test no more than two days before traveling to the U.S.
The policy will go into effect on Jan. 5 to give airlines time to put the policy in place. It will affect all travelers 2 years old and older.
Federal health officials said that the policy came as China is rolling back its “zero COVID” policies. There is already a significant increase in cases… as well as a lack of adequate and transparent sequencing data.
Officials said that the US would also be expanding the Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program (TGS)… which collects anonymous nasal swabs from international travelers. Specifically at select airports to help identify any new variants.
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