{"id":5843,"date":"2022-11-27T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-27T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/?p=5843"},"modified":"2022-11-27T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-27T06:00:00","slug":"what-covid-19-variants-are-going-around-in-november-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/?p=5843","title":{"rendered":"What COVID-19 variants are going around in November 2022?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Authors: Nebraska Medicine November 1, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are currently more than 37,000 cases reported in the United States per day<\/a>, with test positivity of 8.6%. When test positivity is above 5%, transmission is considered uncontrolled. There are more than 340 deaths per day, and hospitalizations have increased 8% over the last two weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What COVID-19 variant are we on?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the dominant variant nationwide is BA.5<\/a>. “The original omicron variant is gone now,” says Dr. Rupp. “Currently subvariants of omicron are circulating, including BA.5, BA.4.6, BQ.1, BF.7 and BQ.1.1.” 
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"United
Currently, BA.5 (dark green) is the dominant COVID-19 variant nationwide, followed by BA.4.6. Source: CDC Variant Proportions<\/a> on November 1, 2022.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

BA.5 variant dominating in Nebraska<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BA.5 is also the dominant variant in Nebraska, making up 88% of cases. BA.4.6 is the next highest variant, with 6% of Nebraska cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chart
New COVID-19 variants displace older ones. In the last two weeks, Nebraska has seen an increase in omicron subvariants BA.5 (brown). Source: DHHS Nebraska<\/a> on November 1, 2022. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Which COVID-19 variant do I have? And do COVID-19 tests tell you the variant?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you receive a COVID-19 test, you won’t find out which variant caused your infection. That’s because COVID-19 tests only detect the presence of the virus \u2013 they don’t determine the variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Genomic sequencing looks at the genetic code of the virus to determine which variant caused the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nebraska DHHS sequences test samples after a positive test is identified and reports the total percentage of each variant every two weeks. See the latest genomic surveillance report for Nebraska<\/a>. Sequencing results are used by public health experts to understand variant trends in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will COVID-19 variants affect the vaccine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to prevent new variants is to slow the spread of the virus. The great news is that these proven public health strategies continue to work against new variants as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n