DHAKA, Jan 1, 2023 (BSS) - The highly contagious new Omicron sub-variant of 
coronavirus, BF.7, has been detected in the country, Institute of 
Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) sources said. 

"The presence of a new variant was confirmed in the genome sequence reports 
of one of the four Covid-19 infected Chinese citizens," IEDCR Director Dr 
Tahmina Shirin told BSS today. 

Four passengers from China tested positive for Covid-19 at Hazrat Shahjalal 
International Airport recently after the authorities geared up health 
screening as they fear the spread of a sub-variant of Omicron, the 
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) sources said.

The new variant is capable of infecting many people within a shorter period, 
it said adding: "The new sub-variant of Omicron is four times higher 
transmissible and the incubation period is shorter enabling it to infect many 
people at a time."