The finds were the result of genetic sequencing of Covid-19 patients in 25 northern localities and the three northern central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Health workers take samples for Covid-19 testing.
The genetic sequencing indicated that BA.5 had quickly gained dominance in 28 localities, accounting for 60 percent of their Covid-19 cases in August. Other sub-variants like BA.2 and BA.2.74 represent most of the remainder.
This was in contrast to the first few months of 2022, when most of the Covid-19 patients in the 28 provinces and cities were mainly BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron sub-variants.
Between January and August 15 this year, these 28 localities reported over 7.73 million Covid-19 patients.
Previous genetic sequencing conducted on samples of 30 Covid-19 patients at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases on July 14-30 also revealed that BA.5 held up to 80 percent of the cases.
The Ministry of Health said that the BA.5 subvariant appeared to be more resistant to antibodies. The subvariant is 12 percent more infectious than the BA.2 subvariant.
The ministry added that the country’s Covid-19 cases have been on the rise since early August with some 2,000 cases daily, mostly due to the BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75 and BA.2.12.1 sub-variants.
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