Even as the US grapples with its most recent wave of Covid-19, new research suggests that variants on the horizon may keep case levels high
The next influx of infections will probably come from the newer Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, two closely related viruses that were first characterized in South Africa and that landed in the United States around late March, according to the gene sequence sharing site GISAID.These variants are gaining ground against BA.2, particularly in the central part of the country. Recent research suggests that they escape immunity created by vaccines and past infections.
Though BA.4 and BA.5 seem capable of overpowering BA.2.12.1, they haven't squared off in the US, and the fitness of these strains depends a lot on the playing field. The variants aren't following a rulebook.But for the next few months, experts say, there's just going to be a lot of Covid-19 around us."For the summer, going into the winter, I expect these viruses to be out there at relatively high levels," Greninger said.