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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12424715" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ay-4-2" source="Orion">AY.4.2</keyword>, a daughter of the <keyword id="11894307" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="delta" source="Orion">Delta</keyword> variant, has been detected in New York and California.</li><li>Some <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10">evidence</a> suggests AY.4.2 may be slightly more transmissible than Delta, but experts aren't sure yet.</li></ul>A new version of the <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword> - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-is-tracking-a-new-delta-related-variant-coronavirus-ay42-2021-10">AY.4.2</a>, sometimes known as "<keyword id="12424714" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="delta-plus" source="Orion">Delta Plus</keyword>" - grabbed scientists' attention when it began to spread in the United Kingdom <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1025827/Technical_Briefing_25.pdf">in July</a>. Now, the variant has been detected in New York and California, state <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword> officials confirmed to Insider.As of Friday, New York had confirmed five cases of AY.4.2, and California had detected two, in San Diego and San Francisco Counties.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies the original Delta variant as a "<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant-info.html#anchor_1632150752495">variant of concern</a>." Delta causes more infections and spreads faster than earlier forms of the virus, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html">according to the CDC</a>, and some data suggests that it might cause more severe infection in unvaccinated people, though that's not yet confirmed. As of October, Delta made up <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html">more than 99%</a> of sequenced cases in the US. AY.4.2 is a descendent of Delta, but the CDC does not classify sublineages separately. In England, AY.4.2 accounted for <a href="https://covid19.sanger.ac.uk/lineages/raw?lineage=AY.4.2">10% of sequenced samples</a> as of Monday. It has been "steadily increasing in England," Jeffrey Barrett, director of the <keyword id="11893994" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19" source="Orion">COVID-19</keyword> Genomics Initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, <a href="https://twitter.com/jcbarret/status/1450408485829718039">wrote on Twitter last week</a>. That pattern is different from other sublineages of the Delta variant, none of which had a "consistent advantage" over other Delta types, he added. Still, AY.4.2 is replacing Delta in the UK at a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10">much slower rate</a> than Delta replaced the Alpha variant, which was previously dominant there, Barrett said. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10">Some evidence</a> suggests that AY.4.2 might be slightly more transmissible than AY.4, the most common Delta variant in the UK, but experts say more research is needed to know for sure. Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2021/10/27/3-takeaways-from-the-emergence-of-the-delta-plus-coronavirus-variant/">told STAT News</a> that to prove AY.4.2 is more transmissible, "you need to see the difference in more geographies," and also observe that trend "sustained over a long period."Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Insider that the existence of a new variant isn't necessarily cause for concern."New variants are generated all the time," he said. "That's the normal thing that this virus is going to do. It's going to continue to mutate. While variants may garner headlines and people may write doomsday scenarios about them, most are not going to really change the trajectory of the pandemic."Given that the original Delta variant became dominant around the world, it's unsurprising that we're now seeing Delta mutations and daughter lineages spring from it, Adalja added. <h2>A COVID-19 moonshot: variant-specific vaccines and treatments</h2><div type="image" title="booster vaccine" height="3803" width="5070" msid="87396197" hostid="261"></div>The US <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-us-covid-test-sequencing-strain-cases-infections-2021-7">lags behind many nations</a> in sequencing samples of the coronavirus. In the past six months, the US sequenced and shared results for just 6% of all positive tests, according to data from the <a href="https://www.gisaid.org/index.php?id=208" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data</a>. New York and California do more sequencing than most other parts of the US, Nevan Krogan, a molecular biologist at the University of California, San Francisco, told Insider.Given all that, it's probable that AY.4.2 is present in multiple states and cases just haven't been spotted yet."If you look at where this virus is being reported as most prevalent, it's in England. Why? It's because they do better sequencing than anyone else in the world," Krogan said.But sequencing the virus is just the first step - scientists then want to use that data to figure out what how the virus mutates and what those mutations mean."The jury's out in terms of what effects these mutations are actually having on the virus. And are they providing any extra power to the Delta variant?" Krogan said.Answering that question will take significant time and research, but doing so would help scientists get ahead of the virus - to predict what combinations are coming down the line, rather than reacting to variants after they pop up. "The hope is that there's a limited amount of mutations that can happen with this virus," Krogan said.In the best-case scenario, he added, scientists could understand different variants well enough to develop variant-specific treatments or vaccines. "That's precision medicine," he said. In the meantime, there's a different way to slow the virus' rate of mutation: "The solution to the variants is the vaccine," Adalja said, adding, "if people want to be less scared of the variants, the solution is to have people vaccinated so there are less variants generally."<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/catherine-schuster-bruce">Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce</a> contributing reporting.

The 'Delta Plus' variant -AY.4.2- has been detected in New York and California, but experts say not to panic

Seven people in <keyword id="6354780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="karnataka" source="Orion">Karnataka</keyword> have been found to be infected with the new 'AY 4.2' <keyword id="10514304" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Covid-19-variant" source="Orion">Covid-19 variant</keyword>, triggering fear of a possible third wave of the pandemic in the state. The new variant is causing havoc in the UK, Russia and China. As the Covid restrictions have been eased in the state following sharp reduction in fresh cases, authorities are now preparing an action plan to prevent the spread of the new variant. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said he has already discussed about the new Covid strain with the state Health Minister. "I have been instructed to initiate strict measures to contain the virus," he added. Karnataka Education Minister, B.C. Nagesh has said there is no difference between the new variant of <keyword id="8763838" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="COVID-19" source="Orion">Covid-19</keyword> and the older one and that there is no need to panic. The state resumed physical classes for primary school children on Monday. The swab samples which were collected in July by authorities have tested positive for AY 4.2 strain through genomic sequencing. Among the seven cases, three are from Bengaluru and four others belong to different districts of the state. Without taking any chances, the authorities have already started tracking down the infected persons. A team will visit their houses to conduct Covid tests on them and their primary and secondary contacts. The new strain is said to be highly transmissible, but fatal. Experts opined that climate and immunity of the people in Russia, the UK and China as compared to Indians are different. But India with 130 crore population can't allow the infection to spread as it may create disastrous effects and will lead to further mutations of Covid-19. Meanwhile, seven districts in the state have vaccinated 50 per cent of the target population with a second Covid dose. As many as 68 per cent of people have been administered with a second dose in Bengaluru Urban, followed by Ramanagar (54 per cent), Kolar (51 per cent) and Udupi, Kodagu and Chikkaballapur (50 per cent). The experts have said vaccination is the most effective deterrent against the new variants and people who have received only one dose remain vulnerable to the virus. Maintaining social distancing and wearing masks along with vaccination is the need of the hour. If people neglect this, they will be in danger, they added. The Karnataka government has relaxed most of the stringent rules of Covid restrictions and life is back to normalcy in the state. Huge crowds can be seen in malls, theatres and other public places. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/after-raising-2-billion-since-2020-byjus-is-now-looking-to-raise-another-500-million-in-debt-to-acquire-more-businesses/articleshow/87276471.cms">After raising $2 billion since 2020, Byju’s is now looking to raise another $500 million in debt to acquire more businesses</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/zee-cancels-october-27-board-meeting-cites-lack-of-quorum/articleshow/87276518.cms">Zee cancels October 27 board meeting, cites lack of quorum</a>

Karnataka records 7 cases of new AY 4.2 variant of COVID-19

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A new <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword> variant, called AY.4.2, is being closely monitored by scientists around the world.</li><li>AY.4.2 is a descendant of the Delta variant. It has been found "on occasion" in the US, the CDC said. </li></ul>A new coronavirus descendant related to Delta, called AY.4.2, is being closely monitored by scientists in the US, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">UK</a>, and Israel.AY.4.2 is still "very rare" in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."It is well below 0.05% of all our sequenced viruses, with less than 10 reported in our database so far," the CDC said in a statement sent to Insider on Wednesday. Meanwhile, AY.4, the parent lineage of the new variant, "represents around 11% of the Delta viruses in the United States," the CDC said. While <a href="https://twitter.com/jcbarret/status/1450408485829718039">many different AY lineages of the Delta variant</a> have been documented to date, AY.4.2 has caught the attention of virus-watchers around the world recently because <a href="https://twitter.com/BallouxFrancois/status/1449217846593064963">it has two changes located on the viral spike protein</a>, which could perhaps give it some advantages. But it's unclear if that's the case yet."At this time ... there is no evidence that the sub lineage A.Y.4.2 impacts the effectiveness of our current vaccines or therapeutics," the CDC said. The <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1025827/Technical_Briefing_25.pdf">UK Health Security Agency</a> said on Friday that AY.4.2 is currently "expanding" in England and is "increasing in frequency" there, representing an estimated 6% of sequenced strains in the country. Israeli health officials <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/first-case-of-delta-mutation-ay-4-2-diagnosed-in-israel/">reported their first documented case of AY.4.2 on Tuesday</a>.Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottGottliebMD/status/1449803423906418691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1449803423906418691%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fcdc-is-tracking-a-new-delta-related-variant-coronavirus-ay42-2021-101-10">Scott Gottlieb said on Twitter</a> over the weekend that "we need urgent research" to figure out how much of a threat the new Delta descendant really poses. It's possible that AY.4.2 could turn out to be slightly more transmissible than other versions of the virus we've seen so far. But that's no reason to panic. "This is not a situation comparable to the emergence of Alpha and Delta that were far more transmissible (50% or more) than any strain in circulation at the time," <a href="https://twitter.com/BallouxFrancois/status/1449217863240372228">Professor Francois Balloux</a>, Director of the University College London Genetics Institute, <a href="https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-comments-on-the-ay-4-2-subvariant/">said on Tuesday</a>. "Here we are dealing with a potential small increase in transmissibility that would not have a comparable impact on the pandemic."<h2>AY.4.2 has been identified 'on occasion' in the US</h2><div type="image" title="Getting a COVID-19 test to travel to the UK - Testing Facility at JFK Airport" height="1875" width="2500" msid="87166286" hostid="261"></div>"We have, on occasion, identified the sublineage here in the United States, but not with recent increased frequency or clustering to date," CDC director Rochelle Walensky said during a White House coronavirus briefing Wednesday morning, referencing AY.4.2. (The UK, which has noticed a larger uptick in AY.4.2 cases recently, has been far better than the US at <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-us-covid-test-sequencing-strain-cases-infections-2021-7">tracking and sequencing coronavirus variants in real time during the pandemic</a>.)Jeffrey Barrett, a genomics expert leading the COVID-19 initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, <a href="https://twitter.com/jcbarret/status/1450408485829718039">said it's still possible that AY.4.2</a> has just had a bit of "epidemiological luck" in the UK recently. Professor Balloux agreed. "In Denmark, the other country that besides the UK has excellent genomic surveillance in place, it reached a 2% frequency but has gone down since," <a href="https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-comments-on-the-ay-4-2-subvariant/">he said</a> of the subvariant.

The CDC says it's identified a new Delta-related coronavirus variant in the US, and officials are monitoring it closely

<ul class="summary-list"><li>About 6% of <keyword id="11894307" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="delta" source="Orion">Delta</keyword> cases in England are now of a variant called AY.4.2 - and the figure is rising.</li><li>But the <keyword id="11917544" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cdc" source="Orion">CDC</keyword> has no plans to stop flights from the <keyword id="11897975" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uk" source="Orion">UK</keyword>, its director Dr. Rochelle <keyword id="12386981" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="walensky" source="Orion">Walensky</keyword> said.</li></ul>The US has no immediate plans to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-multiple-countries-close-borders-uk-fearing-new-strain-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ban flights</a> from the UK or Europe to stop a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new Delta-related variant</a> from spreading, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said."We are not anticipating that now," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday</a>, adding that the CDC was "following the <keyword id="11896083" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="science" source="Orion">science</keyword> very, very carefully."Scientists worldwide are carefully examining AY4.2, a descendent of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-vaccine-effectiveness-protection-pfizer-moderna-astrazeneca-2021-7?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">Delta</a>, to see if it is more infectious than Delta, or able to avoid the immune response.Walensky said that there were a "handful" of AY4.2 cases in the US. It hadn't "taken off" in the US like it had in the UK, she said.In England, the number of AY4.2 cases has gradually increased in recent weeks, according to a <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1028113/Technical_Briefing_26.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Health England report</a> published Friday. Dr. Jeffrey Barrett, a medical genomics group leader at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, <a href="https://twitter.com/jcbarret/status/1450408485829718039" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted on October 19</a> that AY.4.2 was the only Delta descendant that was steadily increasing in the UK, which suggested a "consistent advantage" over Delta.In the US, the new AY.4.2 variant was in less than 0.05% of sequenced tests. Meanwhile, AY.4, its parent lineage, "represents around 11% of the Delta viruses in the United States," the CDC <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-is-tracking-a-new-delta-related-variant-coronavirus-ay42-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Insider</a> Wednesday.The figure could be higher because the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-us-covid-test-sequencing-strain-cases-infections-2021-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US doesn't sequence</a> every person that catches COVID-19.The rise of AY.4.2 hasn't yet been seen in other countries. It's not yet clear whether the new variant's rise in the UK is due to the virus' mutations giving it a biological advantage against other variants, or if it is spreading in populations with already high levels of transmission for other reasons. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, told <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1452284742351609871" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Face the Nation</a> on Sunday that it could be more contagious than Delta, but not by enough to change the trajectory of the pandemic in the US.

The CDC has no plans to stop flights coming from the UK despite the rise of a new Delta-related variant

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Scientists are closely tracking a new <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword> <keyword id="12004893" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="variant" source="Orion">variant</keyword> called AY.4.2, a subtype of <keyword id="11894307" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="delta" source="Orion">Delta</keyword>.</li><li>Data showed it may be 10% more infectious than Delta, an expert said. Cases are low outside the <keyword id="11897975" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uk" source="Orion">UK</keyword>.</li></ul>Scientists worldwide are closely tracking a descendant of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-good-news-vaccines-still-work-pfizer-mandate-2021-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highly infectious Delta variant</a> that's spreading in the UK.England's public-health authority said in a report on <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1025827/Technical_Briefing_25.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Friday</a> that it was monitoring a subtype of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-vaccine-effectiveness-protection-pfizer-moderna-astrazeneca-2021-7?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">Delta variant</a> called AY.4.2, which had infected more people recently. Francois Balloux, the director at the University College London Genetics Institute, <a href="https://twitter.com/BallouxFrancois/status/1450342073631191043" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted on Saturday</a> that data about AY.4.2 suggested it could be 10% more transmissible than the most common Delta variant in the UK, called AY.4."As such, it feels worthwhile keeping an eye on it," he said.As of September 27, 6% of UK sequenced tests were AY.4.2, Public Health England said in its report on Friday, adding that estimates could be imprecise because it was difficult to sequence the variant's mutations. Dr. Scott <keyword id="12344386" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gottlieb" source="Orion">Gottlieb</keyword>, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said the new variant wasn't an "immediate cause for concern," but he called for "urgent research" to work out whether it was more infectious or able to avoid the body's immune response."We should work to more quickly characterize these and other new variants. We have the tools," <a href="https://twitter.com/scottgottliebmd/status/1449803423906418691">he tweeted on Sunday</a>. He added that a coordinated, global response was required.Dr. Jeffrey Barrett, a medical genomics group leader at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, <a href="https://twitter.com/jcbarret/status/1450408485829718039" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted on Tuesday</a> that AY.4.2 was the only Delta descendant that was steadily increasing, which suggested a "consistent advantage" over Delta. Barrett cautioned that AY.4.2 was replacing Delta at a much slower rate than Delta had replaced the formerly dominant Alpha variant. The Delta variant is estimated to be about 60% more infectious than Alpha. The same pattern for AY.4.2 hasn't yet been seen in other countries.Balloux said in a statement on Tuesday that the variant was "rare" outside of the UK, with only three cases detected in the US so far. "In Denmark, the other country that besides the UK has excellent genomic surveillance in place, it reached a 2% frequency but has gone down since," he said.<h2>New mutations</h2>The virus that causes COVID-19 gets about two new mutations per month, and there are now 56 Delta descendants, showed <a href="https://outbreak.info/situation-reports?pango=B.1.617.2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scripps Research's Outbreak.info</a>, which includes data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before AY.4.2, PHE tended to group Delta and its descendants together.AY.4.2 has two new mutations in the part of the virus that attaches to human cells, which is called the spike protein. It's not yet clear how these mutations could affect the virus' behavior.Balloux said neither of these mutations had been found in other variants of concern.

Scientists are closely tracking a new variant spreading in the UK that could be 10% more infectious than Delta

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The virus causing <keyword id="11893994" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19" source="Orion">COVID-19</keyword> probably isn't finished mutating, a scientist tracking it said.</li><li>Mutations might happen less often than before but could help the virus avoid the immune reponse, he said.</li></ul>The virus that causes COVID-19 will probably carry on mutating but less quickly than it has in the past, a leading scientist has predicted.Trevor Bedford, associate professor in bioinformatics in the vaccines and infectious diseases division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, <a href="https://twitter.com/trvrb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Twitter Monday</a> that he highly doubted the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV2, had "hit a wall in terms of its evolutionary potential."Bedford said that he expected new mutations to help the virus escape the body's immune response, but that these mutations would occur at a slower rate than in 2020.The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highly infectious Delta variant</a>, itself a mutation from the original <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword>, already has mutated strains, including one called AY.4.2 that doesn't appear to be more dangerous.<keyword id="11894307" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="delta" source="Orion">Delta</keyword> became the most common <keyword id="12004893" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="variant" source="Orion">variant</keyword> in the world <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-coronavirus-variant-more-transmissible-who-says-2021-5?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">within nine months of its first detection</a>, in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-variants-uk-south-africa-brazil-us-facts-questions-2021-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> in October 2020.Variants of SARS-CoV2 appeared to "burst onto the scene in early 2021, due to exponential growth." Then Delta, which was more than <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fully-vaccinated-spread-covid-19-delta-home-household-study-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">twice as infectious</a> as the original virus, became the only "virus standing," he said."I propose that we're already seeing slowing between 2020 and today," Bedford said. <h2>Delta descendent </h2>Public <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">Health</keyword> England (PHE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in October</a> that they were closely monitoring <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-is-tracking-a-new-delta-related-variant-coronavirus-ay42-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Delta-related coronavirus</a> called AY.4.2.AY.4.2 has been detected in 39 countries and 13 US states<a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1033101/Technical_Briefing_28_12_Nov_2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">,</a> but about 94% of global AY.4.2 is in the UK, <a href="https://outbreak.info/situation-reports?pango=AY.4.2&amp;selected=GBR&amp;loc=USA&amp;loc=USA_US-CA&amp;loc=GBR&amp;overlay=false" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Outbreak.Info</a>, which is run by the Scripps Research Institute and funded by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Jeremy Barrett, head of the Sanger Institute, <a href="https://twitter.com/jcbarret" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Twitter Monday</a> that he was "starting to become curious why it has had such a consistent growth advantage in the UK, but has not really increased anywhere else in the world." It's not yet clear if the virus is inherently more infectious, or if the growth in England is down to characteristics of the population it is spreading in. It accounted for about 11% of Delta cases in England on October 23 and about 15% of cases on November 6, according to PHE.So far, AY.4.2 doesn't appear more deadly than Delta, and vaccines protect against it, <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1033101/Technical_Briefing_28_12_Nov_2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the most recent PHE report</a>, released on Friday.Francois Balloux, director of the genetics institute at University College London, <a href="https://twitter.com/kallmemeg/status/1460312681735503874" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on Twitter Monday</a>: "I'm personally not overly worried about AY.4.2."

A scientist tracking the coronavirus predicts it will keep mutating to avoid the immune response — but at a slower rate than before

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Of almost 800,000 sequences collected in the last 60 days, 99.7% were <keyword id="11894307" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="delta" source="Orion">Delta</keyword>, a <keyword id="6366244" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="who" source="Orion">WHO</keyword> report said. </li><li>Delta is highly infectious and has mutations that help it avoid the immune response.</li></ul>The Delta variant was detected on 99.7% of nearly 800,000 diagnostic tests sequenced and uploaded to a <a href="https://outbreak.info/situation-reports/delta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">central database</a> in the past 60 days, the World <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">Health</keyword> Organization said in a <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report Tuesday</a>. Delta, which is highly infectious and can avoid the immune response, was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-variants-uk-south-africa-brazil-us-facts-questions-2021-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first identified in India in October 2020</a> and has now spread to 166 countries, WHO said in the report.Delta's spread has been "more gradual" in a few countries in South America, according to the report. The Gamma, Lambda, and Mu variants make up a "large proportion" of the country's sequenced tests, the report said. Worldwide, each of those three variants accounted for less than 0.1% of sequenced tests in the past 60 days, the report found.But not every country has access to sequencing facilities, WHO cautioned, and delays in uploading test results to GISAID, the central database, may mean some variants are undercounted.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delta</a>, which is a mutated version of the original <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword>, has 152 descendants, <a href="https://outbreak.info/situation-reports/delta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Outbreak.info,</a> which is run by Scripps and uses GISAID data. One descendent, AY.4.2, is being most closely monitored by public health bodies globally, particularly in the UK, where it has been detected most often.Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at WHO, said <a href="https://twitter.com/doctorsoumya/status/1460862424626700302" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on Twitter Wednesday</a> that AY4.2 "may have some transmission advantage and needs watching."But it's not yet clear if AY.4.2 is inherently more infectious, or if other factors in England are contributing to its spread. The variant accounted for about 11% of Delta cases in England as of October 23 and about 15% of cases as of November 6, <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1033101/Technical_Briefing_28_12_Nov_2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the most recent Public Health England report</a> released Friday.So far, AY.4.2 doesn't appear more deadly than Delta, and vaccines should protect against it, <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1033101/Technical_Briefing_28_12_Nov_2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the PHE report</a> found.

The Delta variant was detected on 99.7% of sequenced tests worldwide in the past 60 days

In a respite to the <keyword id="6354780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="karnataka" source="Orion">Karnataka</keyword> government which has eased restrictions after a decline in the number of cases, <keyword id="6354321" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bengaluru" source="Orion">Bengaluru</keyword> has not recorded any Covid fatality in the past 70 days, according to the health department. The last Covid death that Bengaluru had recorded was on August 23. According to statistics released on Monday, only two fatalities were recorded across the state. Following the trend, the government is all set to lift nightlife curbs in Bengaluru and other cities. The Covid Technical Advisory Committee has already recommended easing curbs on nightlife, according to sources. The state reported 185 Covid positive cases with Bengaluru accounting for 95 cases. The state's positivity rate stood at 0.3 per cent. According to experts, vaccination coverage in the state, especially in Bengaluru, contributed to the reduction in Covid fatalities and positivity rate. Karnataka has so far administered 4.2 crore first doses of Covid vaccination and 2.3 crore second doses. According to sources, the Covid Technical Advisory Committee has recommended the lifting of the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. night curfew. The state government has removed all major restrictions barring movement of people from Kerala. The committee has also considered the possibility of spread of the new variant virus AY 4.2. The night curfew was clamped from April 10 during the tenure of former Chief Minister <keyword id="943063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="b-s-yediyurappa" source="Orion">B.S.Yediyurappa</keyword> at the peak of the second wave. The government is likely to lift the restrictions on night life after Diwali celebrations. However, a final call will be taken after the festival ends and the impact of the gathering of lakhs of people without following Covid norms of social distancing and wearing of masks for Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar' funeral, who died due to cardiac arrest, is known in another two weeks, experts opine. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/lahore-declared-as-the-most-polluted-city-in-the-world-delhi-at-second-position/articleshow/87481980.cms">Lahore declared as the most polluted city in the world, Delhi at second position</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/logistics-startup-delhivery-files-for-a-nearly-1-billion-ipo/articleshow/87481889.cms">Logistics startup Delhivery files for a nearly $1 billion IPO</a>

Bengaluru records no COVID-19 death in the past 70 days even after government easing restrictions

The special admission process of <keyword id="6360099" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="delhi-university" source="Orion">Delhi University</keyword> began from Tuesday after incorporating some stringent terms and conditions in the merit list. This process is for those students who were eligible to take admission on the basis of first, second or third cut-offs but could not submit applications due to some reasons. They will be admitted through a special cut-off, released by the university authorities. Talking to IANS, Registrar of Delhi University, <keyword id="6361106" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vikas-gupta" source="Orion">Vikas Gupta</keyword>, said: "On the basis of the <keyword id="12392409" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="special-cut-off-list" source="Orion">special cut-off list</keyword>, applications for admission can be submitted from October 26, 10 a.m. to October 27 noon. The specific cut-offs are decided by the colleges based on the availability of vacant seats. These colleges will approve the eligible applications by October 28 and the fees needs to be deposited by October 29. No complaint will be entertained if a candidate fails to apply or make payment after this." The special cut-off list demands marks ranging between 96 and 99 per cent for admission to various courses in most colleges and is offering more opportunity for students under reserved category as compared to those under general category. It has fixed 98.25 per cent cut-off for Economics, 98.75 per cent for B.Com Honours and 98.25 per cent for History. Delhi University has a total of 70,000 seats for undergraduate courses and has, so far, released three cut-off lists for admission to these seats. As many as 1,70,186 students have applied on the basis of all the three cut-offs, till now. Out of these, only 58,000 students have received admission offers from various colleges. Delhi University has made a sudden change in their admission eligibility after they released their first cut-off list this year, as a result of which several students who scored 99 per cent marks were also denied admission to many reputed colleges of the country like Hindu, Hansraj and Ramjas. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/sanjiv-goenka-makes-a-billion-dollar-comeback-to-the-worlds-biggest-t20-stage/articleshow/87277384.cms">Sanjiv Goenka makes a billion dollar comeback to the world's biggest T20 stage</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/karnataka-records-7-cases-of-new-ay-4-2-variant-of-covid-19/articleshow/87276678.cms">Karnataka records 7 cases of new AY 4.2 variant of COVID-19</a>

Delhi University rolls out special cut-off list for students who were eligible in first, second and third list but couldn't submit applications

Hello,Welcome to Insider <keyword id="11897506" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="healthcare" source="Orion">Healthcare</keyword>. I'm healthcare editor Leah Rosenbaum, and today in healthcare news:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jack-stoddard-patina-health-raises-57-million-from-a16z-gv-2021-10">Jack Stoddard, former executive of Haven and Accolade, has a new company for older adults</a>; </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biotech-cellino-raising-75-million-for-stem-cell-therapies-2021-10">Stem cell manufacturing company Cellino is raising its next round of financing</a>;</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-ay4-uk-us-cases-cdc-no-plan-flights-2021-10">The CDC isn't stopping flights from the UK, despite a new COVID-19 variant.</a></li></ul>If you're new to this <keyword id="11894123" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="newsletter" source="Orion">newsletter</keyword>, <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/insider-healthcare">sign up here.</a> Comments, tips? Email me at <a href="mailto:lrosenbaum@insider.com">lrosenbaum@insider.com</a> or tweet <a href="https://twitter.com/leah_rosenbaum">@leah_rosenbaum.</a> Let's get to it...<h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jack-stoddard-patina-health-raises-57-million-from-a16z-gv-2021-10">A former Haven exec is working with Alphabet's GV and Andreessen Horowitz to change how and where we care for older Americans</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jack-stoddard-patina-health-raises-57-million-from-a16z-gv-2021-10"></a></h3><ul><li>Jack Stoddard, <keyword id="12394096" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="haven" source="Orion">Haven</keyword>'s former chief operating officer, is launching a new startup, Patina Health.</li><li>It's hoping to make healthcare easier for older people and their loved ones.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jack-stoddard-patina-health-raises-57-million-from-a16z-gv-2021-10">Patina has raised $57 million, and it's launching early next year.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jack-stoddard-patina-health-raises-57-million-from-a16z-gv-2021-10">Dive in&gt;&gt;</a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biotech-cellino-raising-75-million-for-stem-cell-therapies-2021-10"><div type="image" title="A headshot of Cellino CEO Nabiha Saklayen" height="2249" width="3000" msid="87282454" hostid="261"></div></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biotech-cellino-raising-75-million-for-stem-cell-therapies-2021-10">EXCLUSIVE: Rising biotech Cellino is raising $75 million to make it easier to produce stem cells with AI</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biotech-cellino-raising-75-million-for-stem-cell-therapies-2021-10"></a></h3><ul><li>Cellino is raising between $75 million and $80 million for a Series A round, sources told Insider. </li><li>The startup is using artificial intelligence and lasers to develop treatments using <keyword id="12394098" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="stem-cells" source="Orion">stem cells</keyword>.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biotech-cellino-raising-75-million-for-stem-cell-therapies-2021-10">It launched in February with $16 million in seed funding from Khosla Ventures and other investors.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biotech-cellino-raising-75-million-for-stem-cell-therapies-2021-10">Read the scoop&gt;&gt;</a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-ay4-uk-us-cases-cdc-no-plan-flights-2021-10"><div type="image" title="Women with red hair and red nail varnish in a black coat and gold hoops puts COVID-19 test swab into right nostril." height="2257" width="3010" msid="87282456" hostid="261"></div>The CDC has no plans to stop flights coming from the UK despite the rise of a new Delta-related variant</a></h3><ul><li>About 6% of Delta cases in England are now of a variant called AY.4.2 - and the figure is rising.</li><li>But the CDC has no plans to stop flights from the UK, its director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-ay4-uk-us-cases-cdc-no-plan-flights-2021-10">The CDC was "following the science very, very carefully," she told NBC's Meet The Press.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-ay4-uk-us-cases-cdc-no-plan-flights-2021-10">Check it out&gt;&gt;</a>More stories we're reading:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pregnant-booster-shot-covid-vaccine-kansas-side-effects-2021-10">I'm pregnant and got the COVID booster shot despite facing criticism from fellow moms - here's how I made my decision</a> (Insider)</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/25/health/covid-boosters-cdc-fda.html">Not everyone agrees that COVID-19 vaccine boosters are needed for the general public</a> (The New York Times)</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sexually-transmitted-disease-std-covid-19-made-worse-experts-2021-10">The US has a record number of sexually transmitted diseases and COVID-19 is making things worse, experts say</a> (Insider)</li><li><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/10/how-public-health-took-part-its-own-downfall/620457/">When public health experts decided to become less political, they led to the downfall of the field</a> (The Atlantic) </li></ul>-Leah

A longtime healthcare exec wants to change how we care for aging Americans

Hello,Welcome to <keyword id="11894896" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="insider-healthcare" source="Orion">Insider Healthcare</keyword>. I'm <keyword id="11897506" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="healthcare" source="Orion">healthcare</keyword> editor Leah Rosenbaum, and today in healthcare news:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-in-store-for-google-healths-next-chapter-2021-10">After dissolving Google Health, the tech giant is getting ready for a new chapter in healthcare</a>;</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-using-social-media-to-reach-medically-underserved-communities-patients-2021-10">Doctors are go online to meet underserved populations where they're at</a>;</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10">Scientists are tracking a new COVID-19 variant in the UK. </a></li></ul>If you're new to this <keyword id="11894123" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="newsletter" source="Orion">newsletter</keyword>, <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/insider-healthcare">sign up here.</a> Comments, tips? Email me at <a href="mailto:lrosenbaum@insider.com">lrosenbaum@insider.com</a> or tweet <a href="https://twitter.com/leah_rosenbaum">@leah_rosenbaum.</a> Let's get to it...<h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-in-store-for-google-healths-next-chapter-2021-10">Google's health chief lays out the company's next steps after shying away from a full healthcare business</a></h3><ul><li><keyword id="11892740" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="google" source="Orion">Google</keyword> is rethinking its strategy in healthcare, dispersing its health group throughout the company.</li><li>Chief Health Officer Dr. Karen DeSalvo laid out how the new approach could make a mark.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-in-store-for-google-healths-next-chapter-2021-10">The goal is to help billions of people make decisions about their health.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-in-store-for-google-healths-next-chapter-2021-10">Get an inside look&gt;&gt; </a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-using-social-media-to-reach-medically-underserved-communities-patients-2021-10"><div type="image" title="Doctor in white coat looks off screen." height="684" width="912" msid="87161347" hostid="261"></div></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-using-social-media-to-reach-medically-underserved-communities-patients-2021-10">A key part of improving healthcare for underserved populations is meeting patients where they are - on the internet</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-using-social-media-to-reach-medically-underserved-communities-patients-2021-10"></a></h3><ul><li>During the pandemic, some physicians have used <keyword id="11894124" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="youtube" source="Orion">YouTube</keyword> to correct misinformation.</li><li>Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick leads a YouTube channel dedicated to democratizing health information.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-using-social-media-to-reach-medically-underserved-communities-patients-2021-10">She also highlights the importance of provider-patient communication.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-using-social-media-to-reach-medically-underserved-communities-patients-2021-10">Read more&gt;&gt; </a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10"><div type="image" title="Year 11 pupils get tested prior to returning to school next week at The Wey Valley Academy on September 03, 2021 in Weymouth, England." height="3223" width="4297" msid="87161348" hostid="261"></div>Scientists are closely tracking a new variant spreading in the UK that could be 10% more infectious than Delta</a></h3><ul><li>Scientists are closely tracking a new <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword> variant called AY.4.2, a subtype of Delta.</li><li>Data showed it may be 10% more infectious than Delta, an expert said. Cases are low outside the UK.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10">Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA chief, called for "urgent research" on the variant.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-ay42-under-investigation-uk-2021-10">Check it out&gt;&gt; </a>More stories we're reading:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nurse-shortage-labor-quit-healthcare-hospital-jobs-employment-shiftmed-survey-2021-10">Half of nurses said they're thinking of quitting the profession within 2 years in a survey. Higher pay and better staffing could convince them to stay</a> (Insider)</li><li><a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/elisabeth-bik-didier-raoult-hydroxychloroquine-study">What happens when a data sleuth challenges a hydroxychloroquine COVID scientist</a> (Buzzfeed News)</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cnn-john-king-multiple-sclerosis-covid-vaccine-2021-10">CNN's John King reveals he has multiple sclerosis and says he's grateful for his colleagues who got vaccinated</a> (Insider)</li><li><a href="https://khn.org/news/article/children-with-disabilities-face-special-back-to-school-challenges/">Back-to-school after COVID can be more challenge for kids with disabilities</a> (Kaiser Health News)</li></ul>-Leah

Google lays out its next healthcare chapter

<ul class="summary-list"><li>On Friday, the UK released new projections estimating how fast the <keyword id="12616996" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="omicron" source="Orion">Omicron</keyword> variant may spread.</li><li>Omicron looks to be spreading faster than Delta in UK households, and among close contacts.</li></ul>Omicron is on the move in the UK. Though for now it remains a <a href="https://twitter.com/timspector/status/1469351222272536577">small share of sequenced cases</a> in the country (<a href="https://twitter.com/UKHSA/status/1470405213739786254">around 5,000</a>), health officials are beginning to warn people that may not stay true for much longer.According to data released Friday, based on 581 confirmed Omicron infections across the UK, Omicron could out-compete Delta by the end of this year. That estimate hinges on the idea that Omicron will continue <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1040076/Technical_Briefing_31.pdf">doubling roughly every 2.5 days</a>. "If Omicron continues to grow at the present rate, Omicron case numbers are projected to reach parity with Delta cases in mid-December," a new technical briefing from the UK Health Security Agency <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-variants-identified-in-the-uk">released December 10</a> said. "If current trends continue unchanged, the UK will exceed one million infections by the end of this month."Here's how the numbers look so far: <div type="image" title="graph showing delta and delta plus responsible for most sequenced covid-19 cases across the UK, but with omicron rising rapidly" height="481" width="940" msid="88263268" hostid="261"></div>But, experts caution this rapid growth pattern of Omicron is no reason for vaccinated people to panic. The latest research demonstrates that booster doses do a good job of staving off Omicron infections, with about "70% to 75% protection against symptomatic infection" in the "early period" after a booster dose, the UK health agency said. Even for those who are vaccinated but not boosted, protection against severe disease with Omicron is expected to be maintained, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fully-vaccinated-people-not-immune-to-covid-milder-2021-7">as it was for Delta</a> and other <keyword id="11929599" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="variants" source="Orion">variants</keyword>. (AY.4.2, aka <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ay42-delta-plus-variant-detected-new-york-california-2021-10">Delta Plus</a>, is a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-plus-variant-how-dangerous-is-it-2021-8">descendant variant</a> of Delta.) "We expect the vaccines to show higher protection against the serious complications of COVID-19, so if you haven't yet had your first two doses please book an appointment straight away," Dr. Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunization at the UK's Health Security Agency, said <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-variants-identified-in-the-uk">in a release Friday</a>. So far, 10 Omicron cases reported in England have been hospitalized, and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-variants-identified-in-the-uk">one person has died</a>. According to the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-variants-identified-in-the-uk">UK HSA</a>, the patients "are a mix of age ranges" between 18 and 85, and spread geographically around the country. Most were fully vaccinated.Infections reported so far across South Africa, Europe, and the US have been generally mild, especially <a href="https://twitter.com/Boghuma/status/1469288144784838661">for vaccinated people</a>. But it is still early days."Hospitalizations always lag a few weeks behind infections, therefore it isn't surprising that we have started to see people being admitted to hospital with the Omicron variant, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-variants-identified-in-the-uk">Ramsay said Monday</a>. <h2>Omicron's 'growth advantage' over Delta </h2>Both the UK and the <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1470137002230222858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">World Health Organization</a> have said in recent days that Omicron appears to be faster-moving than Delta, with a substantial "growth advantage." That doesn't necessarily mean Omicron is more infectious than Delta, to know that, more careful scientific study will need to take into account people's vaccination status, and prior infections. But it does mean that <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1470137004050501636">Omicron is likely to overtake Delta</a>, in places where it lands and spreads.For now, it appears that the risk of infection with Omicron is more than three times that of Delta in households, and more than two times that of Delta among close contacts, <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1040076/Technical_Briefing_31.pdf">UK figures</a> suggest. Early analyses also indicate an "approximately 3- to 8-fold increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant," the UK said. One anecdotal report from a birthday party in the UK suggested Omicron symptoms may surface far more quickly than Delta, in just a matter of days, and that one infected person may be able to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/omicron-uk-birthday-party-became-superspreader-event-among-vaccinated-2021-12">seed an entire birthday party</a>. Common Omicron <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/omicron-symptoms-cough-runny-nose-mild-us-europe-cdc-2021-12">symptoms reported so far</a> have included coughs, fatigue, and congestion.

You Searched For "ay42" and got 12 results

The 'Delta Plus' variant -AY.4.2- has been detected in New York and California, but experts say not to panic

Erin Schumaker

Karnataka records 7 cases of new AY 4.2 variant of COVID-19

IANS

The CDC says it's identified a new Delta-related coronavirus variant in the US, and officials are monitoring it closely

Hilary Brueck

The CDC has no plans to stop flights coming from the UK despite the rise of a new Delta-related variant

Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce

Scientists are closely tracking a new variant spreading in the UK that could be 10% more infectious than Delta

Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce

A scientist tracking the coronavirus predicts it will keep mutating to avoid the immune response — but at a slower rate than before

Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce

The Delta variant was detected on 99.7% of sequenced tests worldwide in the past 60 days

Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce

Bengaluru records no COVID-19 death in the past 70 days even after government easing restrictions

IANS

Delhi University rolls out special cut-off list for students who were eligible in first, second and third list but couldn't submit applications

IANS

A longtime healthcare exec wants to change how we care for aging Americans

Leah Rosenbaum

Google lays out its next healthcare chapter

Leah Rosenbaum

One chart shows just how fast Omicron is spreading in the UK — it's possible it could rival Delta by the end of the week, data-crunchers say

Hilary Brueck

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