Coronavirus: Omicron BA.5 subvariant may trigger new infection wave if it becomes dominant strain, health official warns, as Hong Kong logs 6,389 cases
- According to authorities, 30.2 per cent of Covid-19 cases recorded on Saturday involved BA.5 subvariant
- ‘We worry that there may be a new outbreak wave in the future, especially when we enter winter,’ Centre for Health Protection’s Albert Au says
A more contagious coronavirus subvariant may trigger a new infection wave in the winter if it becomes the dominant strain in Hong Kong, health authorities have warned, while the daily number of infections topped 6,000 for three days straight.
The Centre for Health Protection said 30.2 per cent of the 6,389 cases recorded on Saturday involved the Omicron BA.5 subvariant, reaching a new high since the strain was first detected in the city last month.
BA.2.12.1, another Omicron subvariant, accounted for 7.9 per cent of the latest infections, according to authorities.
Omicron BA.5 has become the dominant strain in the United States and most European countries since June. It is known for its high infectivity and ability to evade immunity.
Dr Albert Au Ka-wing, the department’s principal medical and health officer, said: “The proportion of BA.5 cases has been on an ascending trend recently.”
But he pointed out that the phenomenon was within the expectations of health authorities, adding that the particular strain was more transmissible than other Omicron subvariants.
“We expect this subvariant branch will be more transmissible in the community. This may also be one of the reasons for the continuous increase in caseloads,” Au said.
He also explained that the trend in Hong Kong was being seen overseas and as BA.5 cases surpassed a certain threshold, the subvariant would spark a rapid rise in infections and replace others to become the dominant strain.
