More transmissible Omicron subvariant rising as Alberta mulls lifting more restrictions – CBC
10% of the province’s daily COVID cases are testing positive for BA.2
Feb 24, 2022
A more transmissible Omicron subvariant is slowly picking up steam in Alberta, but experts say it’s unclear how that could impact community transmission of COVID-19 at a time when the province is on the downward slope of the fifth wave.
Alberta resumed screening all positive COVID-19 cases for variants of concern on Wednesday after cutting back over Christmas when cases spiked.
According to the provincial lab, between eight and 15 per cent of daily COVID-19 cases — identified through PCR testing in the past week — have come back positive for BA.2.
“BA.2, based on this latest data, is not predominant, but still it’s a rising trend over time,” said Sarah Otto, a University of British Columbia professor and member of an independent B.C. COVID-19 modelling group.
Alberta’s provincial lab is reporting a rolling seven-day average BA.2 positivity rate of 10 per cent, up from four per cent on Feb. 9, when the lab adopted a rapid screening test for the subvariant.
