China bringing its zero COVID policy to an end led to a spike in cases late last year, fuelling fears that a new variant could emerge.
's case surge, accounting for more than 90% of infections in Beijing between 14 November and 20 December.
While the research was concentrated on the capital, the study's authors say it represents a snapshot of the nationwideoutbreak due to the characteristics of the city's population and how transmissible the virus is there. Professor George Gao, from the Institute of Microbiology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said:"Given the impact that variants have had on the course of the pandemic, it was important to investigate whether any new ones emerged following the recent changes to China's COVID prevention and control policies.
"Our analysis suggests two known Omicron sub-variants - rather than any new variants - have chiefly been responsible for the current surge in Beijing, and likely China as a whole. "However, with ongoing large-scale circulation of COVID in China, it is important we continue to monitor the situation closely so that any new variants that might emerge are found as early as possible."
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