Fast-spreading Omicron Sub-variant Raises Concerns

Fast-spreading Omicron Sub-variant¹ Raises Concerns

An Omicron sub-variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading fast in many parts of the world and raising concerns for experts.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron, has caused 35 percent of all new cases in the United States. In the northeastern states, including New York, New Jersey² and Massachusetts, BA.2 has made up more than half of the cases. The total number of infections, however, has been decreasing and officials around the country have lifted measures such as required cloth face coverings and social distancing.

The Omicron variant of the virus was first reported last November in South Africa. It has three main sub-variants known as BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3. Scientists believe they all appeared at the same time but Omicron BA.1 was linked to most of the cases reported over recent months.

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said reported cases of Omicron BA.2 have been increasing in comparison to BA.1. The health agency found that although BA.2 could spread faster, it does not make people sicker than BA.1.

By Tuesday, the WHO wrote in its weekly report that BA.2 had overtaken all other versions of the virus in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean³, Africa, the Western Pacific and Europe. In Britain, the Office for National Statistics also reported that cases of BA.2 infection had outnumbered other versions by early March.

Dr. Anthony Fauci is the U.S. government's top infectious disease expert. He told ABC's This Week program that the U.S. would likely see an increase of infections like Britain. Fauci said: "They have BA.2. They have a relaxation⁴ of some restrictions⁵ such as indoor masking." Additionally, immunity⁶ from vaccines⁷ and past infections was also decreasing.

Dr. Eric Topol is head of Scripps Research Translational Institute. He told the Associated Press, "It's inevitable⁸ we will see a BA.2 wave here."

However, Ali Mokdad, a professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation⁹ (IHME) at the University of Washington does not expect a big increase in the U.S. in the coming weeks.

He wrote on Twitter: "Our models do not suggest there will be much of an increase in the US in the next weeks, if at all. However, it is possible that the rapid return to pre #COVID19 behavior and the spread of BA.2 could see a short period of increasing case numbers."

And an early study in Qatar also suggests that vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will work against both Omicron sub-variants. The results suggest that the level of protection against BA.2 is about the same as for BA.1.

Words in This Story

variant – n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind;

masking –n. the act of putting on a face covering especially for health reasons

inevitable –adj. not avoidable; sure to happen

rapid –adj. very fast; happening quickly

1 variant   

adj.不同的，变异的；n.变体，异体

参考例句：

• We give professional suggestions according to variant tanning stages for each customer.我们针对每位顾客不同的日晒阶段，提供强度适合的晒黑建议。
• In a variant of this approach,the tests are data- driven.这个方法的一个变种，是数据驱动的测试。

2 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

3 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

4 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

7 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

8 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

9 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。