New COVID-19 omicron variant in Central Texas; masks urged again

This time last year, parking lots were filled with people like Ryan Maud waiting to get COVID-19 tests. A new omicron subvariant has been detected in Austin this month and another one, nicknamed "The Kraken," is heading our way.

New year, new COVID-19 variant, new rise in conditions.

Austin General public Overall health on Friday declared that a new omicron subvariant, XBB.1, has now been described in Travis County, according to a surveillance procedure that tracks the genomic sequence in COVID-19 exams.

The omicron variant of the virus responsible for COVID-19 has 5 XBB varieties of subvariant. Even though Austin has XBB.1 and not yet formally XBB.1.5, we ought to be organized for that variant to arrive.

The XBB.1.5, which has been named the “Kraken” for the reason that of its transmissibility, has been witnessed in other metropolitan areas in Texas. Although XBB.1.5 has not still been detected in Austin’s surveillance procedure or in water samples but, as it has in other components of Texas, Austin Community Wellbeing believes it will clearly show up in h2o shortly — and sign widespread transmission of the subvariant.