COVID-19 Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 now accounts for 61% of cases nationwide
undefined undefined/iStock via Getty Images


Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 continues to account for a greater proportion of COVID-19 cases across the US with the latest CDC data finding it responsible for 61.3%.
For the week ending Jan. 28, XBB.1.5 is now easily outrunning previously dominant BQ.1.1 and BA.5 subvariants which made up ~27% and ~1% of cases, respectively.

About two weeks, XBB.1.5 accounted for ~43% of cases.
XBB.1.5 is said to be more easily transmissible compared to prior variants. However, immunologists have said currently available bivalent COVID vaccines are effective against preventing severe disease.
COVID-19 vaccine makers: Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), and Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX).