A new variant of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has reached Poland. The new variant – Kraken – is more infectious, but patients do not become more acutely ill and the number of hospitalisations is falling. “It is definitely safer than the previous version of Omicron and all other viruses”, assessed Ministry of Health spokesman Wojciech Andrusiewicz.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that a new variant of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has reached Poland, namely version XBB.1.5, which has been named Kraken. It is supposed to transmit up to 40 % faster than previous variants of the coronavirus. In the USA, the new version already causes around 40 % of all infections.

Asked if Poles should fear the coronavirus again, a spokesperson told the public that there is nothing to fear now.

“Certainly this variant of coronavirus is more infectious. We have increased transmission compared to earlier versions, the Omicron sub-variants. It does not pose a major threat in the course of covid. That is, we do not have more serious illnesses, ailments and complications. In this aspect, Kraken is definitely safer for us than the previous version of Omicron and than all previous versions”, assessed the health ministry spokesman.

Andrusiewicz added that up to Wednesday, two cases of Omikron had been registered in Poland so far, although there are probably more, as not everyone goes to the doctor today and gets tested.

“At the moment we are monitoring what is happening in the world. The two reference countries for us are the United States, where we have increased transmission from Kraken, and in Europe the United Kingdom, where Kraken arrived at the very beginning. What is very significant is that in the last week in both of these countries, hospital admissions have fallen, and infections have also started to fall”, said a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński