A new COVID-19 variant has emerged, serving as a reminder that the coronavirus continues to mutate and spread around the world, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.

The variant is called EG.5 and is a descendant of Omicron.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that EG.5 accounted for roughly 17.3 per cent — or one in six — of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. in the past two weeks.

    • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.worldEnglish
      19·
      1 year ago

      Is it though? It’s an omicron subvariant that doesn’t seem to be any worse that its predecessors and the annual booster update is likely to get authorized in a few weeks.

      This is the new normal. Covid mutates like flu, and each year will have covid and flu shots in the fall.

        • Polar@lemmy.ca
          30·
          1 year ago

          Thanks for being the only voice of reason. Everyone else is just like “ya but we don’t die so who gives a fuck” attitude.

          I’m glad some people are still looking at COVID as a whole.

          • BedSharkPal@lemmy.ca
            9·
            1 year ago

            I mean you need only look at the people in your daily life to realize there aren’t many people who care anymore. Simple things like wearing a mask are off the table for the vast majority.

          • Ben Hur Horse Race@lemm.ee
            6·
            1 year ago

            I think a lot of us are, I just feel folks who are thinking big-picture aren’t the type to make a lot of noise on the internet about it, ya know?

        • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          1 year ago

          Agreed. I guess I’m saying is that it’s no more concerning that what is currently floating around. It’s what most epidemiologists expected to happen.

        • ahal@lemmy.ca
          1·
          1 year ago

          I vaguely remember reading that long COVID is really chronic fatigue syndrome or similar. Basically it can happen after any infection. Doctors haven’t been able to figure out what causes it largely because there hasn’t been enough data. It’s not until COVID came along that they’re taking it seriously.

          Not sure if that’s more or less reassuring though. I guess personally I find it reassuring that it’s likely not something COVID specific.