Omicron’s sub-variant called BA.2 has arrived in Italy, where authorities suggest the new variant is just as fast to spread, but it is not yet clear if it is less aggressive.

According to Italian media, the new version BA.2, is not the only "sister" of Omicron as so far the tests have resulted in sub-variants BA.1 and BA.3, as shown by large databases that store sequences of SarsCoV2 virus, such as NextStrain and Gisaid.

Meanwhile, experts have highlighted the fact that BA.2 is unlikely to generate a new wave of propagation, but only to somehow disrupt the current wave or slow down the descent of the epidemic curve.

Of the three versions of the Omicron, BA.1 is the most prevalent in the countries where it arrived, it quickly set aside pre-existing variants and in those countries where the Omicron replaced the Delta and as of January 17 had an estimated prevalence of 95.8%.

BA.2 was first reported in India and then in the Philippines, Singapore and Japan spreading to the next destination which is Europe where before Italy its presence was discovered in Denmark, and then in the UK and Germany.