China is ‘very vulnerable’ to omicron subvariant

​​

KEY POINTS

• Low levels of immunity are complicating China’s efforts to limit spread during its surge in cases of the new Covid omicron BA.2 subvariant, Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Monday.

• “China has a population that’s very vulnerable to this new variant. This is a much more contagious variant, it’s going to be harder to control, and they don’t have a population that has natural immunity,” Gottlieb said.

• The increasing number of cases of BA.2, known as “stealth” omicron, in mainland China have led some major cities to shutter nonessential businesses and move to online schooling.