Omicron subvariant now dominant COVID strain in Pacific Northwest

WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – An omicron subvariant is now the dominant strain causing COVID-19 infections in our region.

Numbers from the CDC show the BA.2 subvariant now accounts for 58.9% of infections in Washington, Oregon and Idaho while the omicron strain makes up the rest.

The subvariant only recently arrived in the U.S., but is about 30% more transmissible that omicron.

The Whatcom County Health Department says it does not appear to cause more severe illness than omicron and current vaccines are just as effective against it.

The FDA has given its okay for those 50 and older to receive a second vaccine booster shot.