As mask mandates fall, BA.2 ‘stealth’ Omicron cases slowly rise

US News & World Report included Jennifer Surtees in a report on the rise of the omicron subvariant BA.2 amid the loosening of mask mandates nationwide. Surtees said removing mask mandates while cases are elevated could give the subvariant a boost. “That's where I worry about BA.2 potentially being able to get a foothold and finding people who don't already have immunity or have waning immunity. If we stay the course a little bit longer, we could actually prevent BA.2 from getting a foothold.”