The new variants of the "Omicron" strain, known as BA.4 and BA.5, allow the virus to evade our immune defenses, which is why there is a wave of COVID-19 infections spreading in many countries currently. However, experts indicate that there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of infection. According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 cases have increased by 30% globally over the past two weeks, with most cases attributed to these two subvariants identified as "Omicron," which are more capable of spreading from person to person.
Early evidence suggests that the BA.5 variant is four times more resistant to antibodies in vaccinated and boosted individuals compared to BA.2, which spread last spring. This indicates that COVID-19 infections have become more common among vaccinated individuals, including those who have recently recovered from the virus.
**Protection Methods**
- Vaccination and receiving booster doses are the best ways to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization if infected with the coronavirus, regardless of how the effectiveness of vaccination may decrease against new variants and strains.
- Studies show that the virus particles produced by an infected person when they sneeze increase several times when they are infected with the newer Omicron variants. Therefore, a tighter mask should be worn to ensure protection from sneeze droplets, especially in crowded areas.
- The size and weight of the virus remain unchanged, which means that the likelihood of infection is much lower outdoors compared to indoor settings, and handwashing and surface cleaning are still required at the same levels.
