COVID variants BQ.1/BQ.1.1 make up 35% of U.S. cases
2022.11.04 12:48
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The word “COVID-19” is reflected in a drop on a syringe needle in this illustration taken November 9, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
(Reuters) -The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday estimated that Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 accounted for about 35% of coronavirus cases in the country from 23.2% in the previous week.
BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants among circulating cases made up just shy of 9% of total cases for the week of Oct. 15 and have been surging since then.
The U.S. CDC said on Friday BQ.1.1 made up nearly 19% of circulating variants and BQ.1 was estimated to make up 16.5% of circulating cases in the week of Nov. 5.
The BA.5 subvariant, which drove up cases earlier this year, is estimated to make up about 39% of cases, compared with nearly 51% in the week ended Oct. 29.
