717 new COVID-19 cases as Omicron subvariant now most common

A subvariant of Omicron that is more contagious than the original is now the most common COVID-19 strain in Malta, which recorded 717 new virus cases on Wednesday. 
Superintendent of Publich Health Charmaine Gauci revealed the details in answers to Times of Malta readers during the latest edition of the Ask Charmaine programme. 
She said the BA.2 strain now accounts for 86% of cases nationwide. 
The variant does not appear to make people any sicker than the original strain, with Gauci pointing out that the increase in new cases has not been paralleled by an increase in hospital admissions.

There are 100 patients in hospital who are positive for the virus but may have been admitted with other ailments, while four people are in intensive care.  Three people diagnosed with the virus died in the past 24 hours while 216 patients recovered.
It means the number of active cases is now at 5,783.
Gauci said the number of cases was expected to increase as restrictions were relaxed, there was increased mobility of people, a cold spell and the increased prevalence of the subvaraint. 
Relaxation of rules, focus on personal responsibility
She said that in the coming days an announcement would...