Samples confirmed to be BA.2 Omicron subvariant

COVID-19 samples sent to Hawaii to undergo genome sequencing were identified as the stealth variant.

According to the Joint Information Center the 10 virus samples that were sent were collected between February 4th to February 18th. All 10 were identified as BA.2 which is a sub lineage of the Omicron variant.

BA.2 is reportedly more transmissible but not to believed to be as severe as the original Omicron variant.