California reaches 3M COVID-19 cases; researchers think new variant could be causing surge
David Goldman/AP
FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2020, file photo, a worker walks through the hallway of a newly opened field hospital operated by Care New England to handle a surge of COVID-19 patients in Cranston, R.I. States faced a deadline on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, to place orders for the coronavirus vaccine as many reported record infections, hospitalizations and deaths, while hospitals were pushed to the breaking point â with the worst feared yet to come. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
and last updated 2021-01-19 17:10:54-05
California has added a million new coronavirus infections in less than four weeks.
Covid mutation accounts for up to 25% of state’s cases
An electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February shows the virus that causes COVID-19.
A Covid mutation is spreading in California, and one expert says it accounts for about 25% of California’s cases, health officials said at a news conference Sunday night.
There’s no evidence that the mutation, known as L452R, produces more dangerous symptoms but because it affects the protein in the Covid virus, there’s a chance that the new vaccines won’t be as effective in preventing the mutation.
Dr. Mark Ghaly revealed a new variant of COVID-19, referred to as the L452R variant, has been identified around California. The variant has been identified in several large outbreaks in Santa Clara County recently.