The Israeli Health Ministry reported a novel coronavirus strain on Friday. Three years into the COVID pandemic, this new version has taken the world by surprise. According to local media accounts, two people returning from overseas were infected with the new Covid version. The pair had undergone a Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test upon their return to Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the new coronavirus variety is a cross between BA.1 or Omicron and BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron.
According to the Israeli Health Ministry, the victims experienced fever, headaches, and muscle aches. They did not, however, require any specialized medical attention. The virus was purportedly obtained by the patients, a couple in their 30s, from their newborn.
According to the article, Israel’s COVID czar, Salman Zarka, joining the two Covid variants is a typical phenomenon, and they tend to “link up” when contracted and if both types are in the same cell in an individual’s body.
Zarka further mentioned that BA.1 and BA.2 variations tend to multiply and exchange genetic material, which can result in the formation of new Covid variants.
The Israeli Ministry of Health canceled a rule requiring the use of face masks in medical facilities and nursing homes last month. People must still “wear a mask when traveling to an isolated accommodation (only if confirmed).” This will be in place until May 15, 2023.
Why is it more infectious?
As previously stated, the virus can avoid detection by standard procedures such as RT PCR due to its genetic composition. According to research, BA.2 has a growth advantage over BA.1. “Research is ongoing to determine the causes for this growth advantage, but preliminary data suggest that BA.2 is fundamentally more transmissible than BA.1, which is currently the most prevalent Omicron sublineage documented,” according to the WHO.
On February 22, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued the first formal declaration about this variation. According to the WHO, BA.2 will be designated a variant of concern based on available evidence on transmission, severity, reinfection, diagnostics, treatments, and vaccination consequences.