Even as COVID-19 transitioned from pandemic to endemic status, it has remained a persistent part of our lives, mutating into new variants.
Just recently, a new COVID-19 variant was detected in sewage samples in California, USA, and the virus is highly likely to spread.
Meet the NB.1.8.1 variant. It is the subvariant of the main variant that was detected in China last month, and at the time of writing, it is spreading across the US and some parts of Europe. Australia is also not spared from the new virus, and according to Griffith University virologist Associate Professor Lara Herrero, the NB.1.8.1 variant might overtake other strains.
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“The new strain is now the dominant coronavirus strain in China and Hong Kong and, in Australia, we’re seeing it pretty much everywhere.”
Infectious Disease and Vaccinology expert from the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. John Swartzberg, hinted that the low number of COVID-19 cases in 2025 may not stay that way for long and could change by autumn or winter, which is in September or December, respectively. But the bad news doesn’t end there.
It attaches, infects, and spreads more easily
“This variant appears to attach more easily to human cell receptors, which means it has the potential to be more infectious. This is not good news,” Dr. John said, reported ABC News.
According to the official statement from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the NB.1.8.1 strain has been labelled as a “variant under monitoring” and it’s now the dominant variant in China and Hong Kong. Doctors are also expecting spikes in cases of COVID-19 soon.
Health authorities in Hong Kong, however, expect the cases to decline in “a month or two,” according to RTHK.HK.
In Thailand, however, the nation reported 67,484 cases of the virus in just seven days. As such, many have started to mask up again, especially in China, Thailand, and Singapore, as the number of COVID-19 cases increases.
While experts don’t see a need for travel restrictions or worldwide lockdowns (yet), vaccine jabs are highly recommended, especially for those who are travelling.
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If you’re planning to travel soon, it’s wise to catch up with the latest news on COVID-19 cases and plan your journey accordingly.
