While it’s been around for years, the EG.5 subvariant of the COVID-19 virus has become the dominant strain in circulation.

The good news is, the subvariant does not appear to be of any greater concern than other Omicron subvariants according to professor of Virology and Immunology at Memorial University, Rodney Russell.

He says the subvariant may spread a bit faster, but it does not appear to make people sicker than previous versions of the virus.

Because it spreads faster, Russell says there is a greater chance that those who, to now, have managed to avoid catching the virus, may be exposed to infection.

The most recent NL COVID stats updated on July 26 showed nine people in hospital with the virus, one of whom was in critical care.

Vaccination rates in the province are at 23.3 per cent.