The Long Beach Health Department became aware of the first case of the Omicron subvariant, BA.2, detected in the city on Jan. 28.
Currently, the future impacts of BA.2 are unknown.
There has been some evidence that the new subvariant, nicknamed Stealth Omicron, may be more contagious than the original Omicron variant, but right now there is no evidence to suggest that BA.2 makes people sicker, the Health Department said.
According to a City press release, early data from the United Kingdom shows that being fully vaccinated protects individuals from severe illness caused by BA.2 as well as it does against other variants.
According to the Health Department, it is possible that BA.2 could extend the current surge or create a new surge,
It is not yet known if a person who has contracted the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can be reinfected by BA.2.
Since the original Omicron was first detected in Long Beach in December 2021, there have been 327 hospitalizations and 70 deaths caused by COVID-19.
According to the Health Department, deaths caused by COVID-19 are on the rise. As of Jan. 28, 13 people had died from the virus this month alone.
91% of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 were either unvaccinated or not up to date with their vaccinations, and 93% of people who died from COVID-19 were either unvaccinated or not up to date with vaccinations.
All eligible residents are encouraged to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, wear masks indoors and at large outdoor events, stay home and get tested if feeling sick or if exposed to COVID-19.
According to the Health Department, approximately 98% of sequenced cases in Long Beach are Omicron.
As of Jan. 28, COVID-19 cases in Long Beach have declined to an average of 991 per day, down from an average of 2,282 per day on Jan. 13. The positivity rates for testing has also decreased from 29.6% to 24.3%.
As of Jan. 28, the seven-day average case rate was 256.4 per 100,000, compared to 442.9 per 100,000 two weeks ago.
While the Omicron surge is no longer at its peak, case rates are still higher than they’ve been during previous surges.
Free vaccines and tests are offered at City-run sites. Visit longbeach.gov/vaxlb to see the schedule for the City’s vaccine clinics.
