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A new strain of the coronavirus appears to be a genetic fusion of currently known omicron and delta variants, a researcher claims. The so-called "deltacron" strain pairs omicron genetic signatures with delta variant genomes, says Leondios Kostrikis, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, according to CNBC. While 25 cases of the uniquely recognizable strain have been found, Kostrikis predicted it will not last against the globally dominant omicron variant. (Richard, 1/8)

A researcher in Cyprus has discovered a strain of the coronavirus that combines the delta and omicron variant, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday. Leondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, called the strain “deltacron,” because of its omicron-like genetic signatures within the delta genomes, Bloomberg said. So far, Kostrikis and his team have found 25 cases of the virus, according to the report. It’s still too early to tell whether there are more cases of the strain or what impacts it could have. (Bursztynsky, 1/8)

Doctors studying Omicron's spread around the world have found new clues to the pattern of symptoms caused by the highly-mutated COVID-19 variant, which a growing number of reports suggest might show up differently and faster compared to the Delta variant it is now displacing. ... A sore throat ranked among the most common early Omicron symptoms, as well as congestion, a dry cough and lower back pain. The incubation period — the time from infection to symptoms appearing — was as short as three days. That's several days faster than previous strains of the virus. (Tin, 1/7)

As the super contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads, hospitals are seeing a growing trend: Patients admitted for other ailments are also testing positive for Covid-19. Doctors say it may mean more people have asymptomatic or undiagnosed disease than the current data show. Across NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s 10 campuses, just less than half of patients are admitted with Covid, meaning they were hospitalized for a non-Covid related issue but were also tested and found to be carrying the virus. Statewide the figure is 43 percent, according to state data. (Lovelace Jr., 1/8)

Theresa Camarena used to be able to workout and walk her dog in the same day. She used to be able to unload the dishwasher without experiencing shortness of breath. She used to be able to work four days a week. Camarena, 63, works as a respiratory therapist and started the pulmonary rehabilitation program at Franciscan Health Crown Point more than 30 years ago. She has worked there for 43 years. On July 20, 2020, Camarena, a mother of three who lives in Hobart, tested positive for COVID-19, she said. (Kukulka, 1/9)

At least 3,626 children across North Carolina — mostly students of color — are currently coping with the death of a caregiver due to COVID-19. Schools will bear responsibility for supporting children who’ve experienced this loss as they learn and grow over the next two decades. Research published in October in the journal Pediatrics revealed the high toll caregiver deaths are taking on children nationwide, particularly Native American, Hispanic, and Black children. The researchers used fertility, household composition data, and COVID-19 and excess death rates to estimate what they termed “COVID-19-associated orphanhood.” They estimated at least 1,855 children in North Carolina lost a caregiver between April 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Updated estimates now put this number even higher. (Dukes, 1/8)