New Omicron BA.2 variant symptoms - What we know so far

During her regular update, where the First Minister relayed the most recent daily Covid statistics, she addressed MSPs about the new BA.2 sub-variant. 

Ms Sturgeon assured the Scottish Parliament that BA.2 is "not a cause for any alarm" and there is no need to make any change to the current measures at the moment.

A total of 26 cases of the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron have been confirmed in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has said, though this number is likely to be an underestimate.

Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament. Credit: PA

The First Minister also informed MSPs that Genomic sequencing is being used to investigate this further.

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that BA.2 led to more serious illness or had a greater chance of escaping immunity.

However, it appears that BA.2 is more transmissible than the Omicron variant and is able to “out-run” it.

So far, BA.2 has been identified in more than 40 countries including India, South Africa, Australia and the US.

There have been at least 420 cases in the UK since November, according to The Mirror.

What are the symptoms of the BA.2 Covid sub-variant?

A person getting a Covid test. Credit: PA

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that the BA.2 Covid strain has the potential to spread more rapidly than the Omicron variant.

It is currently listed as a "variant under investigation" which is a step below "a variant of concern" on UKSA's scale.

Since BA.2 is a sub-strain of the Omicron variant, it is expected that its symptoms will be similar. 

These are some of the symptoms that you should be looking out for:

• High temperature
• New continuous cough
• Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
• Runny or congested nose
• Feeling fatigued
• Headache
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Muscle or body aches
• Sore throat
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhoea

For more information and further guidance about taking a test and self-isolating, visit the NHS website.