New Omicron Subvariant Is The Most Infectious COVID-19 Strain Yet

A subvariant of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, BA.5, is now the dominant strain in the U.S., and its infection rates are even more harsh.

Health experts are again sounding the alarm, this time over the now dominant COVID-19 variant in the U.S.: BA.5.  

"I know more people infected right now with this virus than any seven to 10-day period I've known since the entire pandemic, and some of these people are really quite ill," said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. 

There is no evidence BA.5 — an offshoot from the Omicron variant — leads to more severe disease, but health experts say it’s the most infectious strain so far.