![]() compared to other Omicron subvariants in late 2022, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 were more highly prevalent. Some Omicron subvariants are more prevalent than others. Currently, the Omicron recombinant subvariant XBB is more prevalent in the U.S. Naming conventions for recombinant variants include an “X,” referring to the intersection of genetic material from two previously distinct lineages. Recombination events occur more frequently when community transmission levels are high. Recombinant virus: Viruses that occur when multiple variants infect the same individual at the same time and exchange genetic material with each other, changing their formulations. This term is sometimes used interchangeably with “subvariant.”Īncestral strain: The original form of SARS-CoV-2 identified in December 2019 often referred to elsewhere as the “original” or “Wuhan” strain. For example, Omicron BA.2 is an Omicron sublineage. Lineage: A group of closely related viruses with a common ancestor. This term is sometimes used interchangeably with “sublineage.” Subvariant: A subgroup of variants categorized based on genomic changes that they have in common and the time frame in which those changes appeared in tandem. Variant: A specific viral genome that contains one or more changes from the ancestral strain. Here we define key terms to discuss SARS-CoV-2 variants: ” Some variants are not associated with increased transmissibility or disease severity compared to the ancestral strain. Other variants could be more highly transmissible, cause more severe disease, or evade protection from therapeutics and/or vaccines, based on information about viral genomes or small-scale epidemiological studies, but these features may not be confirmed yet on a larger scale WHO designates these “ variants of interest. Some of these variants are more highly transmissible, cause more severe disease, or evade protection from therapeutics and/or vaccines these have been designated “ variants of concern ” by the World Health Organization. Scientists have identified numerous SARS-CoV-2 variants. Most mutations do not produce clinically relevant changes for individual infections, but occasionally mutations occur that may make the virus more infectious, cause more severe disease, evade the protection afforded by vaccines or therapeutics, or affect the sensitivity or specificity of diagnostic tools. Viruses including SARS-CoV-2 mutate over time, and as a result, new variants tend to emerge. Some sections may reflect more recent updates. He said the clinics have invested more than a million dollars to make sure air filtration systems were up to date as more people walk through their facilities.This page undergoes regular review and was last comprehensively reviewed on February 24, 2023. “Now our visit time is over an hour, as you might expect.”īlaylock blames the emergence of the COVID-19 Delta variant for the increase in tests.Īnother possible culprit could be recent large festivals or employers requiring the tests. We really had an average visit time below an hour before the spike hit,” said Blaylock. “We’ve probably seen our wait times go up 40% or 50% in some places. Stan Blaylock, the facility's CEO overseeing 51 of its clinics, said some locations are seeing more than 100 patients per day. The uptick in testing demand has forced Physician’s Immediate Care to hire more staff, adjust staff schedules and extend hours. Fast forward to August, a spokeswoman said that number has skyrocketed to an average of 850 patients per day. In June, the facility was seeing around 70 patients per day. Innovative Express Care-Diversey in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood is halting walk-in appointments because of the high demand. Rising COVID-19 cases are putting a strain on testing centers in Illinois as patients claw to get an appointment. Those who test positive are asked to follow the latest CDC guidelines and communicate the results to your healthcare provider, who is responsible for reporting your test results to the state health department. ![]() Individuals who test negative should continue to stay cautious, however, officials urged. ![]() "They are approved for children, you know, who are very young and they're self administered and I think it's very helpful to have them available at home so if somebody's got symptoms, you're not running around trying to find a test for them at that point." ![]() "If someone is really having symptoms and you're not sure, you might still need to stay home and/or get a PCR test, but I strongly recommend those home COVID tests," Arwady said. The test can be used on children as young as 2 years old when samples are collected by an adult and for all people aged 15 years or older. Chicago Forecast: Storms moving in, some could be strongĪccording to the manufacturer’s instructions for use, people using the test should test themselves twice with at least 36 hours between tests. ![]()
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