Omicron BA.2 set to become dominant Covid variant in Malaysia

FILE PHOTO: A medical worker takes a swab sample to be tested for the coronavirus disease from a man, as the Omicron variant of the virus spreads and becomes the dominant variant in Shah Alam, Malaysia, Feb 8, 2022. (Reuters)

Malaysia expects the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron will soon become dominant in the country, raising concerns given its possible higher transmission rate, health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement on Monday.

The “dramatic rise” in the BA.2 subvariant requires attention, said Noor Hisham. Cases involving BA.2 have climbed to 27.1% in the period from March 1 to March 17, compared to 0.9% and 2.7% in January and February respectively, according to Noor Hisham.