Wastewater trackers say BA.4 and BA.5 COVID-19 strains becoming prevalent in Calgary yyc COVID19AB
Casey Hubert, an associate professor at the University of Calgary’s faculty of science, said the subvariant Omicron strains account for about 85 per cent of all cases, according to their tracking. A month ago, BA.4 and BA.5 accounted for about 15 per cent of infections, while BA.2, a subvariant that caused a spike in cases earlier this year, accounted for 85 per cent.
Wastewater tracking out of the University of Calgary shows cases have been steady over the past several weeks, with a high data point July 4 that has not been replicated. Hubert said cases don’t appear to be increasing or declining at a rapid rate at the moment, but said it is not too early to brace for an impending wave of COVID-19.Article content
“It’s not clear to me why we wouldn’t be spared . Our policies are probably similar to other places,” said Hubert.The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are driving surges in infections in Ontario and Quebec, with Ontario announcing this week it would expand fourth dose booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines. In that province, anyone over the age of 18 who received their first booster shot at least five months ago will now be eligible.
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