According to INSACOG data, Omicron’s new variant XBB.1.5 is first found in Gujarat, India, in December. This new sub-variant XBB.1.5 is to blame for the rising number of COVID cases and hospitalizations in New York. Omicron’s original subvariant BA.2 was combined to create XBB. The XBB variant was first found in India in August, and it quickly became dominant as more than 275 cases were found in the Maharashtra state. Since then, the variant XBB has evolved into a family of sub-variants, including XBB.1 and XBB.1.5. The virus needs to bind with its host’s cells to be more efficient. According to researchers, XBB.1.5 differs from its family members due to an additional mutation that improves binding to cells, making the XBB.1.5 variant more efficient. It is also proven that the XBB.1.5 variant can evade protective antibodies and is highly immune. Scientists also warned that sub-variants like XBB

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