Press Release No. 57/2022 COVID-19: ISS Flash Survey, on 2 August 100% Omicron, 90.8% Predominance of Subvariant BA.5

ISS, 12 August 2022

In Italy on 2 August, the Omicron variant had an estimated prevalence of 100%, with BA.5 being the predominant subvariant. These are the results of the flash survey carried out jointly by the ISS and the Ministry of Health together with the regional laboratories and the Bruno Kessler Foundation.

For the survey, the laboratories of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces were asked to select sub-samples of positive cases and to sequence the genome of the virus. The requested samples were chosen by the Regions/PPAAs randomly from among the positive samples, seeking to ensure geographic representation and, where possible, coverage of different age groups. All the Regions/PPAAs participated in the survey with a total of 103 laboratories which sequenced 1520 samples.

Estimated prevalence values were as follows: 100% Omicron variant of which:

B.1.1.529             0.8% (range 0% - 6.4%)

BA.1                      0.3% (range: 0% - 1.9%)

BA.2                     1.4% (range: 0% - 7.7%)

BA 4                     6.7% (range: 0% - 23.5%)

BA 5                 90.8% (range: 76.5% - 100%)