New Omicron variant XBB.1.5 rapidly spreading across NYC region

New omicron variant XBB.1.5 spreading rapidly across U.S.

According to the CDC, the new XBB.1.5 omicron variant accounts for more than 40% of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the nation, with many right here in the tri-state area.

NEW YORK - A new Omicron variant is sweeping across the New York City area and the nation to kick off 2023, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The variant is known as XBB.1.5, and now represents roughly 41% of new cases nationwide.

XBB.1.5 has become the primary strain seen across the tri-state area as well, representing just over 50% of cases found in New York in the week leading up to Christmas, nearly 32% of cases in Connecticut through December 28, and has quickly grown to represent 12% of cases in New Jersey. XBB also represents a whopping 56% of new cases in New York City.

The new variant was first identified in November and has quickly spread across the nation, with experts concerned that infection rates could spike even further with the holiday travel season coming to an end.

Post-holiday respiratory virus concerns

There are concerns of a surge in respiratory viruses following holiday gatherings. Dr. Dara Kass, the regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, joined Good Day New York to discuss the topic.

"#COVID19 variant #XBB.1.5 may be more transmissible than other variants, but we don’t know if it causes more severe disease," said the CDC in a tweet. "We’re closely watching this variant to see how well our vaccines & treatments are working against it."

Experts speaking to CNBC said that the variant appears to be highly immune evasive and is more effective at dodging protections from omicron boosters than other subvariants.

In a study published in the journal Cell, scientists said that XBB and its subvariants could "further compromise the efficacy of current COVID-19 vaccines and result in a surge of breakthrough infections as well as re-infections."

The news comes as the CDC has announced that travelers from China coming to the U.S. must test negative for COVID-19, citing a lack of adequate and transparent data coming from China for why the testing requirement was placed.

While COVID hospitalizations have risen 3.6% across the U.S. in recent weeks, hospitalizations in the northeast, have not seen any major increases. Nationwide, deaths have also remained fairly steady.

Doctors say the vaccine and booster are still the best line of defense available against COVID-19. So far about percent of 12.5% of people in the city have received the bivalent booster.