SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continues to evolve and mutate, resulting in the emergence of new variants. The World Health Organization (WHO) monitors and assesses these variants based on their potential impact on public health. Currently, there are two main variants of concern (VOCs) circulating globally:
**Omicron BA.5**
Omicron BA.5 is the most dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide. It is highly transmissible, with an estimated doubling time of 3-4 days. BA.5 is able to evade some of the antibodies generated by vaccination and previous infection, but it is still thought to be less severe than previous variants.
**BA.2.75**
BA.2.75 is a subvariant of Omicron BA.2 that was first identified in India in April 2023. It has since been detected in several other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore. BA.2.75 is thought to be more transmissible than BA.5, but it is still too early to say whether it is more severe.
In addition to these two VOCs, there are several other variants of interest (VOIs) being monitored by the WHO. These VOIs are being watched closely to see if they have the potential to become more dominant or cause more severe disease.
It is important to continue to follow recommended precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19, including:
* Getting vaccinated and boosted
* Wearing a mask in indoor public settings
* Washing your hands frequently
* Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
* Staying home if you are sick
By taking these precautions, you can help to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
