Currently, about one in ten of Covid infections diagnosed in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) is due to Omicron BA.2.
Although the more commonly known BA.1 variant is responsible for about 90 percent of cases in the metropolitan area, that proportion is rapidly declining, according to the district director of diagnostics. Lasse Lehtonen.
The incidence of sub-variant cases, which was first observed in the HUS area last week, is becoming more common.
"The BA.2 variant may be the main variant of the HUS area within a month," Lehtonen said.
The sub-variant has spread rapidly in Denmark and Norway. In most cases, it causes a very mild illness, especially in fully vaccinated people. However, it is spreading faster and easier than its predecessor.
The Omicron variant has caused a peak in infections. The health authority THL registered almost 20,000 cases last weekend.
According to Lehtonen, the rapid spread of the BA.2 sub-variant is likely to prolong the current wave of infection somewhat longer than expected, but he does not believe this will lead to healthcare congestion.
"At HUS, the situation has further improved compared to last week. There are now 10 Covid patients in intensive care, more than half as of mid-January. Of course, the BA.2 version may mean that Covid ICs will not be emptied as quickly as we would like," he added.
Source: The Nordic Page
