The COVID-19 subvariant estimated by New York state health officials to be even more contagious than the first descendant of the potently infectious omicron strain now accounts for up to 70% of all virus circulating in the region that encompasses the Empire State, according to new CDC data released Tuesday.
The prevalence of BA.2.12.1, which health officials say appears to be up to 27% more contagious than BA.2 (which also was said to be more contagious than its predecessor, omicron), in the agency's New York region has been increasing at a far faster rate than nationally, data shows.
The CDC puts it at around 62% of COVID cases in the New York region, which for its purposes also includes New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands, though says BA.2.12.1's share of cases could be higher.