Omicron BA.2 (dubbed Stealth Omicron) spreads even faster, but it is less severe than its parent strain called BA.1, Yelena Gasich, head of the laboratory for diagnosing HIV and concomitant infections at the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, told the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA informs.

Yelena Gasich noted that the both Omicron subvariants appeared almost simultaneously. Initially, there was a surge in BA.1 but then it began to be gradually replaced by its descendant BA.2.

“Firstly, these subvariants have a slightly different set of mutations, and secondly, they have somewhat different clinical manifestations. The first subvariant does not cause the loss of smell, but affects the upper respiratory tract, and has fairly mild symptoms. The Stealth subvariant causes less severe disease, but spreads faster,” the head of the laboratory said.

The Justice Ministries of the Union State member states held the 17th meeting of the joint collegium on 15 February, BelTA learned from the press service of the Justice Ministry.

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has sent greetings to the people of Lithuania as the country celebrates the national holiday - Restoration of the State Day, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The head of state stressed that land relations are one of the most important in the life of any country. “Fair rules in land management are crucial for stability in society. It was the reason for many wars and conflicts in the world. Territorial claims are considered to be the most difficult both in interstate relations and in domestic, even private matters,” the Belarusian leader said.

Belarus' Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich met with Cuba's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Belarus Juan Valdes Figueroa in Minsk on 15 February, BelTA learned from the ministry's press service.

Belarus' Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Defense Minister Aleksei Reznikov at the initiative of the Ukrainian side, BelTA leraned from the Defense Ministry of Belarus.

Belarus is not involved in the worsening of relations with Ukraine, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with well-known Ukrainian politician and statesman Alexander Moroz on 14 February, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lobko, Deputy Director for Research at the Institute for Nuclear Problems of Belarusian State University, spoke about the training of personnel for the Belarusian nuclear power plant as he took part in a round table session at the BelTA press center.

At the meeting with Ukrainian politician and statesman Alexander Moroz on 14 February Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he was going to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin soon, BelTA informs.

The adoption of the recently updated Education Code is only a major step towards improving the educational sector, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he appointed Andrei Ivanets Education Minister of Belarus on 10 February, BelTA has learned.

Over 5.477 million people in Belarus have got the first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, of them over 4.696 million have completed the vaccination process, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed Decree No. 34 “On discharge from active duty, on conscription and recruitment to the reserve force” on 9 February, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The Belarusian-Russian army exercise Allied Resolve 2022 will kick off on 10 February, BelTA has learned.

Belarus confirmed 8,254 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours; another 239 coronavirus patients were discharged from hospital, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.