Hold Onto Your Hat! — Here Comes Omicron Version BA.2

Jane Jewell • March 29, 2022


It seems we just get past one covid peak and here comes another. This new variant of omicron — known as omicron BA.2 or just BA.2 — is surging in various hot-spots around the world, though in other places, such as the U.S., covid indicators are mostly declining. But even as the first omicron wave recedes, its cousin, omicron BA.2, is increasing in the U.S.

 

Thus the current picture is mixed — and not a little confusing.

 

Each wave of the covid virus — from the original through beta, delta, and omicron — surged first in Asia and Europe; then a few weeks later, numbers began to climb in the U.S. That is what appears to be happening now, although the situation varies widely from country to country and within countries.

 

South Korea — which not so long ago had some of the lowest covid numbers of any country — now has the highest new-case rate in the world with a rate of 679 new cases per day per 100,000 population. In raw numbers, mainland China is now undergoing its largest outbreak of covid since the pandemic first began in Wuhan over two years ago, although the national rate in China is still low at less than one person per 100,000.

 

Cases are increasing in 18 European countries, including Britain, France, Germany, and Italy. Rates are high in Austria (477), New Zealand (338), Netherlands (216), Australia (208), and Hong Kong (182). Denmark is at 100 daily new cases per 100,000, while not far across the Baltic Sea, Norway at 52 has nearly half that rate. Norway’s next door neighbor Sweden has a super low rate of eight — just one less than the U.S.’s current rate of nine. All these statistics — while significant — tend to change rapidly. A country or area within a country can have a very low incidence of covid at one point, and then just two or three weeks later be in the throes of a major outbreak.

 

Many authorities believe that communities are relaxing pandemic restrictions too quickly. While that is undoubtedly part of the explanation where rates are rising, the main cause is new variants along with low vaccination rates, especially in older and more vulnerable populations. Population density and percentage of time spent outdoors are also factors. It’s a moving target.

 

Since the peak in January, covid has been trending down in most of the U.S., but if the usual pattern of spread holds, that may change soon. The BA.2 variant has just become the dominant strain in the eight Eastern states comprising New England, New York, and New Jersey; BA.2 accounts for over 50% of new cases, and the rate is rising in these states. In the nearby states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, BA.2 has increased to about 30% of new cases over the past month and continues to rise.

 

In Maryland, trends have definitely been improving since the peak of the first omicron wave in January. For the two weeks ending on Friday, March 25, new cases of covid are down 11%, hospitalizations are down 24%, patients in intensive care are down 37%, and best of all, deaths are down 44%. Overall, the rate of covid cases in Maryland is currently at a low five per 100,000 population, lower than the overall U.S. average rate of nine.

 

Since the pandemic began in 2020, at least one in every six Marylanders has been infected with covid for a total of more than a million reported cases in Maryland. There have been over 14,000 deaths in the state. And the pandemic is not over yet.

 

Covid regulations change often and are not consistent from place to place, with each Maryland county or business often making its own set of rules and/or recommendations.

 

The Maryland State School Board voted to end the state-wide mask mandate in schools on March 1, 2022, thus leaving local school systems free to make their own mask rules. Here on the Eastern Shore, most public school systems consequently dropped their mask mandates in early March, both in school buildings and on school buses. Surprisingly, K-12 schools have been more likely to loosen the rules and/or go maskless than colleges and universities on the Eastern Shore. Salisbury University still requires N95-level masks in class though many other campus areas are now mask-optional. Washington College in Kent County has gone to a mask-optional policy as of March 4, but it requires students and staff to be fully vaccinated and boosted. Chesapeake College doesn’t require vaccinations but asks students, staff, and visitors to wear masks indoors on campus.

 

It’s not clear yet what the exact effects of omicron version BA.2 might be, but we will know soon.

 

What could make the difference in the next wave of covid is the response of both governments and individuals. Testing for a covid infection and determining which variant a person has is important in deciding which treatments may be most effective. One of the main treatments that doctors have been using is not working well in patients with BA.2, though other therapies still work. However, the most recent bill in Congress eliminated most of the funding for covid testing and treatment.

 

So far, being vaccinated and boosted is the best protection from severe covid, hospitalization, and death. Over 90% of all hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated. Those who are vaccinated but not boosted account for about 7% of severe cases that result in hospitalization or death. Risk is cut to only 1% for those fully vaccinated and boosted. So getting that booster shot is one of the most important actions individuals can take to protect themselves.

 

Currently in Maryland, 70% of those over 65 are fully vaccinated with a booster shot. But only 40% of those 18-64 have received a booster shot. For those 5-11, a mere 8% have had a booster shot; however, this age group only became eligible for vaccines in October 2021, so most won’t be eligible for a booster before April 2022 at the earliest. Still, vaccination lags in this age group.

 

Maryland’s fully-vaccinated rate of 75% of eligible residents is higher than most other states; however, within Maryland all the Eastern Shore counties have vaccination rates below that 75% average. Talbot comes closest with 73% of its residents fully vaccinated. Caroline County is second highest with 71%, and Kent County is third at 67%. Somerset at 51% and Wicomico at 55% have the lowest vaccination rates on the shore. These statistics follow the national pattern in which counties with the lowest vaccination rates tend to have worse rates in all covid categories. One exception to this is Talbot County which, despite its 73% vaccination rate, currently is undergoing an increase in new cases and has a higher hospitalization and death rate. It’s unknown whether Talbot’s current high rates are related to the arrival of BA.2 or to other factors.

 

And if it weren’t enough to worry about BA.2, just think about the fact that researchers have found covid in a number of animal species — including big cats (lions, etc.), hamsters, mink, and deer! Deer in Pennsylvania were recently discovered carrying variations of the original covid-19 virus. With these animal reservoirs, it’s unlikely that we’ll be rid of covid any time soon. So plan accordingly and get that booster shot.

 

The chart below is adapted from a New York Times interactive database and shows current rates of new cases, hospitalization, deaths, and vaccinations on the Eastern Shore as of March 25, 2022. Remember that these data can change rapidly, especially if new covid variants appear.



Sources and More Information:

Maryland State Government Covid Information

https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/

 

“Coronavirus World Map: Tracking the Global Outbreak,” New York Times, updated March 26, 2022.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-cases.html

 

“Researcher Finds ‘Stunning' Rate of COVID Among Deer. Here's What It Means For Humans,” National Public Radio, March 9, 2022.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/03/09/1084440012/researcher-finds-stunning-rate-of-covid-among-deer-heres-what-it-means-for-human

 

“A Covid Surge in Western Europe has U.S. Bracing For Another Wave”, Washington Post, March 16, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/03/16/covid-ba2-omicron-surge/

 

USA Facts - Our Nation, in Numbers

https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states/

 

 

Jane Jewell is a writer, editor, photographer, and teacher. She has worked in news, publishing, and as the director of a national writer's group. She lives in Chestertown with her husband Peter Heck, a ginger cat named Riley, and a lot of books.

 

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore

By Friends of Eastern Neck Board of Directors April 16, 2025
Let your elected representatives and business and cultural leaders know that our Refuge and others like it all over the country deserve to be protected. They deserve our stewardship for the natural wonders they shelter, and because they provide refuge for people, too.
By Elaine McNeil April 9, 2025
The Budget Deficit In a recent debate on closing Maryland’s budget deficit, Minority Leader Jason Buckel, a Republican delegate from Allegany County, made an important point: “The man upstairs has only been there for two, three years. I don’t blame him for our economic failures of the last 10,” referring to Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, who was elected in 2022. Ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial elections, Buckel’s comments highlight a key reality that many of his Republican colleagues seldom admit: It isn’t right to blame Gov. Moore for a budget deficit that has been brewing for years. Now projected at $3.3 billion, Maryland’s structural deficit is a problem that started long before Moore took office. In fact, it was first projected in 2017, during the tenure of former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan. This isn’t an opinion — it’s a fact that Buckel and other lawmakers, including Republican Del. Jefferson Ghrist, have bravely acknowledged. During that same debate, Ghrist remarked that the Department of Legislative Services had warned about this deficit throughout Hogan’s administration, yet he did little to address it. Ghrist pointed out that during Maryland’s “good years,” when the state received a flood of federal covid-19 relief dollars, spending spiraled without regard for long-term fiscal health. Hogan used these one-time federal funds to support ongoing programs, which masked the true state of Maryland’s finances and created an illusion of fiscal stability. Hogan continues to take credit for the “surplus” Maryland had in 2022 — even though experts repeatedly note it was caused by the influx of federal dollars during the pandemic. As Ghrist correctly observed, the lack of fiscal restraint and slow growth during the Hogan years laid the groundwork for the $3.3 billion structural deficit the state faces today. Indeed, Maryland’s economy has been stagnant since 2017, especially in comparison to its neighboring states, well before Moore took office. Compounding these challenges are President Donald Trump’s reckless layoffs and trade wars with our allies. Thousands of federal workers who live in Maryland are losing their jobs, which will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue. Trump’s tariffs will also put an enormous strain on local businesses, including Eastern Shore farmers, who are now subject to up to 15% retaliatory tariffs on chicken, wheat, soybeans, corn, fruits, and vegetables. FY2026 Budget Considering this grim reality, Maryland’s lawmakers are making difficult, but necessary, decisions to shore up the state’s finances. Gov. Moore and state legislative leaders recently agreed to a budget that prioritizes expanding Maryland’s economy without raising taxes on most residents. In fact, 94% of Marylanders should see either a tax cut or no change at all to their income tax bill under the proposed agreement. Lawmakers also plan to cut government spending by the largest amount in 16 years, while at the same time making targeted investments in emerging industries, such as quantum computing and aerospace defense, so the state is less dependent on federal jobs. While the richest Marylanders might see their income taxes go up, it’s reasonable to ask someone making over $750,000 a year to pay $1,800 more to support law enforcement, strengthen our schools, and grow our economy. As for the proposed tax on data and IT services, these products aren’t subject to Maryland’s sales tax under current law. Maryland leaders want to modernize our tax code by levying a 3% sales tax on these products. Because they don’t raise income taxes on the majority of Marylanders and because state leaders are also cutting spending by billions, these ideas are fair. They’re also necessary after Gov. Hogan chose to kick the can down the road instead of addressing Maryland’s long-predicted deficit and now that Trump’s policies will lay off thousands of Marylanders and his tariffs will hurt our state. By making responsible choices now, Maryland leaders are putting the state on a path to long-term economic stability. Their decisions will help Maryland thrive, create jobs, and invest in the vital services that every resident relies on — without burdening hardworking families. I’m confident Maryland will emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready to lead in the industries of tomorrow. Elaine McNeil is chair of the Queen Anne’s Democratic Central Committee.
By John Christie April 2, 2025
Among Donald Trump’s most recent targets is what he calls “rogue law firms.” At 6pm last Thursday, March 27, he issued an Executive Order (EO) aimed at my old law firm, WilmerHale, as one of those “rogue” firms. Approximately 15 hours later, the firm filed a 63-page complaint challenging the EO on multiple constitutional grounds. The EO is an “unprecedented assault on the bedrock principle that one should not be penalized for merely defending or prosecuting a lawsuit” and constitutes an “undisguised form of retaliation for representing clients and causes Trump disfavors.” And by 8pm on Friday, March 28, a little over 24 hours after the EO was first issued, a federal district court judge in Washington granted a request for a temporary restraining order, blocking key provisions of the EO from taking effect for now. In doing so, the Court found that “the retaliatory nature of the EO is clear from its face. There is no doubt that it chills speech and legal advocacy and qualifies as a constitutional harm.” The Executive Order The EO and a so-called “Fact Sheet” that went with it recites that the Administration is committed to addressing the significant risks associated with law firms, particularly so-called “Big Law” firms that engage in conduct detrimental to critical American interests. Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) is yet another law firm said to have abandoned the legal profession’s highest ideals and abused its pro bono practice by engaging in activities that “undermine justice and the interests of the United States.” The specific examples offered in support of this conclusion: The EO asserts that WilmerHale “engages in obvious partisan representations to achieve political ends,” an apparent reference to the firm’s representation of Trump’s political opponents — namely the Democratic National Committee and the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The EO cites WilmerHale’s “egregious conduct” in “supporting efforts to discriminate on the basis of race,” an apparent reference to the firm’s representation of Harvard in the Students for Fair Admissions litigation. The EO accuses WilmerHale of “backing the obstruction of efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing horrific crimes,” an apparent reference to the firm’s litigation related pro bono practice and successful challenges to immigration related policies. The EO accuses WilmerHale of “furthering the degradation of the quality of American elections,” an apparent reference to the film’s involvement in challenges to restrictive state voter-identification and voter-registration laws. The EO singles out certain current and former WilmerHale partners, including Robert Mueller, for special criticism by describing Mr. Mueller’s investigation as “one of the most partisan investigations in American history” and having “weaponized the prosecutorial power to suspend the democratic process and distort justice.” The EO then Revokes security clearances held by WilmerHale attorneys; Prohibits the federal government from hiring WilmerHale employees absent a special waiver; Orders a review and the possible termination of federal contracts with entities that do business with the firm; Calls for the withdrawal of government goods or services from the firm; and Calls for restrictions on the ability of WilmerHale employees to enter federal buildings (presumably including federal courthouses) and on their “engaging” with government employees. WilmerHale’s Complaint WilmerHale engaged Paul Clement, a former Solicitor General during the George W. Bush administration and a well-known advocate frequently representing conservative causes, to represent the firm in this matter. Assisted by some 15 WilmerHale litigators, the complaint names the Executive Office of the President and 48 other Departments, Commissions, and individual Officers in their official capacity as defendants. A variety of constitutional violations are alleged: The First Amendment protects the rights of WilmerHale and its clients to speak freely, and petition the courts and other government institutions without facing retaliation and discrimination by federal officials. The separation of powers limits the President’s role to enforcing the law and no statute or constitutional provision empowers him to unilaterally sanction WilmerHale in this manner. The EO flagrantly violates due process by imposing severe consequences without notice or an opportunity to be heard. The EO violates the right to counsel protected by the Fifth and Sixth Amendments and imposes unconstitutional conditions on federal contracts and expenditures. The complaint alleges that WilmerHale has already suffered irreparable damage in the 16 hours since the EO issued. The firm has been vilified by the most powerful person in the country as a “rogue law firm” that has “engaged in conduct detrimental to critical American interests. The EO will inevitable cause extensive, lasting damage to WilmerHale’s current and future business prospects. The harm to the firm’s reputation will negatively affect its ability to recruit and retain employees. Further Proceedings Temporary restraining orders constitute emergency relief upon a showing of likely success on the merits and irreparable harm were the temporary relief not entered. A later hearing will be held in order for the judge to determine whether a preliminary injunction should be issued preventing the government from executing the EO during the continued length of the litigation. Editorial Note: In light of the recent capitulation of several “Big Law” firms to the unreasonable and unconstitutional attacks by the Trump administration, WilmerHale is providing a blueprint for resistance as it fights back. More law firms need to be inspired by WilmerHale’s response to Trump’s demand for revenge on his so-called political enemies. John Christie was for many years a senior partner in a large Washington, D.C. law firm. He specialized in anti-trust litigation and developed a keen interest in the U.S. Supreme Court about which he lectures and writes.
By Bill Flook & CSES Staff April 2, 2025
Tom Timberman was one of the founders of Common Sense for the Eastern Shore. Sadly, he died last month. He will be missed. Common Sense exists because of his leadership and inspiration. His vision was to provide factual and timely commentary and analysis on topics that concern people who live and work on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and to provide factual reporting to help readers shape their own lives. It was important to Tom, as it is today to the editorial board, for Common Sense to help voters to be aware of the effects — personal and local — of decisions made at the federal and state levels. Especially relevant now is this from our Mission Statement: “We seek an America responsive to its citizens and its constitution.” We reprint this tribute from Bill Flook, President of the Democratic Club of Kent County : Many of us were deeply saddened to learn of TomTimberman’s passing last week. It’s hard to believe that such a strong Democratic voice is gone. I worked with Tom for much of the past decade on many good projects promoting our values and activities, including helping on his campaign for County Commissioner, and I’ll particularly miss following his lead as Captain of the Dawn Patrol. Our group met most Saturday mornings for coffee and some good chat, before heading up to Dems HQ to set up the booth there. We’ll miss you, Tom!
By Jared Schablein April 2, 2025
After over 12 hours of debate over two days (and a whole circus from the other side), the Maryland House of Delegates has passed HB 350, this year's state budget, and sent it to the State Senate. This budget is a deal between House Democrats, Senate Democrats, and Governor Wes Moore. It faces our state's $3 billion deficit head-on not with fantasy math, but with real choices: smart cuts and fair new revenue. This is what grown-up governing looks like. How We Got Here: Maryland’s budget problems didn’t start overnight. Leaders began warning about a shortfall in 2017 when Governor Larry Hogan was in office. Hogan made our state budget bigger every year, but the legislature wasn’t allowed to move money around or make common-sense changes. By law, they could only make cuts. In 2020, Maryland voters changed that. Starting in 2023, lawmakers finally got full power to shape the budget, not just cut from it. Instead of fixing the problem, Governor Hogan used federal COVID relief to hide our fiscal instability. Then, before leaving office, he drained our state’s savings from $5.5 billion to $2.3 billion to boost his image. Today, we are facing a new fiscal arsonist. Donald Trump’s trade wars and cuts to federal programs hit Maryland hard. We have more federal jobs and agencies than any other state, so we felt it worse than most. A University of Maryland study says Trump’s tariffs alone could cost us $2 billion. Trump/Musk's policies caused over 30,000 people in Maryland to lose their jobs, offices to shut down, and promised investments to disappear. These federal cuts added another $300 million to our budget deficit. COVID relief gave us a short break and even created a fake surplus under Hogan, but that money is gone now. Meanwhile, housing, healthcare, and college prices have gone way up. The Trump–Musk White House is making it worse by cutting even more funding, eliminating research, and gutting the services we rely on. That’s why Maryland had to act. We needed a real plan to protect working people, fund our schools and hospitals, and keep our state strong. Why Cuts Were Needed Trump’s trade wars and cuts to federal agencies hit Maryland harder than any other state. A University of Maryland study says those tariffs alone could cost us $2 billion. That hurts real people: A chicken farmer on the Eastern Shore is paying 25% more for fertilizer. A dock worker in Baltimore has fewer ships to unload. A restaurant owner in Western Maryland can’t afford eggs and tomatoes. We’ve lost over 30,000 jobs. Offices have shut down. Promised investments disappeared. The decisions of the Trump/Musk administration added $300 million to our state deficit.
No mandate. Image: CSES design.
By Jan Plotczyk November 19, 2024
 The 2024 presidential election was over swiftly. The Associated Press called it at 5:34 am on Nov. 6, and by 8 am, President-elect Donald Trump was crowing about the “ historic mandate ” given to him by the American people. A “mandate”? Turns out not. Trump jumped to an early lead on election night, but in the following days, his lead diminished as mail-in and provisional ballots were counted. A Baltimore Banner article on Nov. 6 highlighted the “Trump shift” that had occurred in every political subdivision in Maryland, even in counties where Democrat Kamala Harris won. This shift described the increase in Trump support since his loss to President Joe Biden in 2020 . As of Nov. 6, the biggest Trump shift was an 8.1% increase in his support in red Cecil County, but there were also shifts in the central Maryland counties that are the state’s Democratic strongholds — 4.3% in Montgomery and lesser amounts in other blue counties. Fourteen counties recorded shifts of 4% or more. On the Eastern Shore, every county had a shift over 4.5% except Talbot (2.7%), and the five largest shifts were Shore counties. For the state’s Democrats, it did not look encouraging. But as mail-in and provisional ballots were counted across the state, the Trump shift was reduced everywhere, and as of Nov. 16, disappeared altogether in Garrett (-1.2%) and Charles (-0.1%) counties. The shift dropped below 3% in all Maryland counties. Cecil’s shift became 2.1%. Montgomery’s shift dropped to 2.9%. Talbot’s shift declined to 0.2%, lowest of the Eastern Shore counties. Now, instead of five, only two of the highest five shifts were in Eastern Shore counties. The red bars in the chart below represent the Trump shift percentage values as of Nov. 16, in ascending order. The grey bars represent the misleading (and ephemeral) Trump shift percentage values as of Nov. 6. Please note the degree to which the Trump shift lessened and disappeared in the 10 days after the election. Another red mirage. But if you had only read the Nov. 6 article and not looked at the updated data, you would have been fooled into thinking Trump support is stronger than it is.
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