BA.2.86 has caught scientists’ attention due to several mutations appearing on the part of the virus that infects human cells — similar to what happened with omicron two years ago.
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023.A new coronavirus variant called BA.2.86 is now circulating in New York City, the city health department. Officials identified the variant in the boroughs’ wastewater, suggesting that it is spreading in communities even though no cases have been confirmed so far.
Future outcomes will hinge in part on whether the variant lessens the effectiveness of upcoming booster shots, which are scheduled to arrive in mid-September. While public health experts said these vaccines will still protect against severe disease, they are based on a recent variant that’s very different from BA.2.86.
“It takes time to do the actual experiments to figure out the functional importance of these mutations,” Luo said. It will also take time to find more cases — an increasingly difficult task as fewer people get official PCR tests and as wastewater data is unevenly reported, as shown by a discrepancy in city and state announcements on Tuesday.
“Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, along with other proven prevention tools – like masking, testing and staying home when sick – continue to be our best defense against COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses,” Vasan said in Tuesday’s announcement of the variant’s arrival.
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