BNO News is tracking confirmed cases of BA.2.86 Pirola, a new variant of the coronavirus which causes COVID-19. Pirola has more than 30 mutations in the spike protein, making it the most notable variant since Omicron was discovered in late 2021. The effects of those mutations are not yet clear. This page will be updated as details become available.
Variants are identified through genomic sequencing. Because only small numbers of positive cases are selected for genomic sequencing, the actual number of BA.2.86 cases could be significantly higher. Regular PCR tests or tests taken at home are not capable of identifying the specific variant of SARS-CoV-2. The numbers on this page are to assess the spread of BA.2.86.
