The COVID positivity rate on Long Island is back up to nearly 2%, in part to a subvariant of Omicron.

Doctors say the stealth Omicron variant of the coronavirus is slightly more contagious than Omicron, but not as serious.

Northwell Health Chief of Public Health Dr. Bruce Farber says most people who have immunity to Ba. 1 will also have immunity to Ba. 2.

"It's another variant, but quite frankly, it's not one that will raise too much alarm," Farber says

Gov. Kathy Hochul says they are not seeing any spikes in hospitalization as of now.

The best way to deal with the new variant is to get tested if they have any symptoms.

Farber says people need to keep track of COVID rates on a week-by-week basis.

"Be prepared to change direction if the rates go up, hopefully not until the fall in a big way, but there's no question that we will be seeing more and more of Omicron over the years," Farber says.

Hochul and doctors are still urging people to get boosted because they say it significantly decreases the chance of getting infected.