Two new Omicron subvariants confirmed in Czechia

The presence of two new Omicron subvariants, designated BA.4 and BA.5, have been confirmed in the Czech Republic by the State Health Institute. These subvariants are currently  behind an increase in cases in South Africa or Portugal. According to the institute, two cases of BA.4 were recorded in the Moravian-Silesian region and three cases of BA.5 in the South Moravian region. Due to the occurrence of the new subvariants, the institute has recommended that laboratories should send one tenth of all positive samples for sequencing.