COVID subvariants: Descriptions and spread

COVID subvariants: What to know and should you be concerned? Newer subvariants, related to the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants, are making up an increasing number of COVID cases in the U.S., but experts say not to panic. ABC News ABC News

Even as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations driven by the omicron subvariant BA.5 continue to fall in the United States, the proportion of infections attributed to other omicron offshoots is rising.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BA.5 currently makes up 67.9% of new virus cases as of last Friday.

The remaining cases are made up of BA.4.6 -- which has been circulating in the U.S. for weeks -- as well as newly identified subvariants like BQ.1, B.Q.1.1 and BF.7, which have been spreading mainly in Europe. ...