Dr. Stephanie Silvera Speaks About BA.2 COVID-19 to NorthJersey.com

Studies have shown that BA.2 is “inherently more transmissible” than omicron BA.1, according to the World Health Organization.

What’s not yet known is if BA.2 causes severe illness the way omicron BA.1 did, which prompted a rapid surge in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths for a month before plummeting just as quickly.

While omicron BA.1 was considered milder than both COVID’s original strain and the delta variant, more than 2,000 New Jerseyans died during its short peak.

“We often don’t know until it’s too late,” said Dr. Stephanie Silvera, Professor in the Public Health Department and an infectious disease specialist. “That’s been the problem with managing these surges. Deaths are one of the last impacts we see.”