South African and Brazilian COVID-19 Variants Found In Los Angeles

L.A. Public Health announced that it was detected one case of the South African and three cases of the Brazilian COVID-19 variants.

Both variants known as  B.1.351 and P.1, increased COVID-19 transmission in their respective countries and have been “susceptible to certain therapeutics.”

“Although these are the first reported cases of the South African and Brazilian variant in L.A. County, it is likely there are additional undetected/undiagnosed cases,” L.A. Public Health said in a press release.

While these are the first cases reported in L.A. County, there have been 33 cases of the Brazilian variant and 10 cases of the South African variant reported in other parts of California, along with at least four others from the U.K., India, New York and one first discovered in California.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health continues to test for the variants and of the 70 specimen studied this week, 64% found the U.K. variant, while 20% were of the California variant.

Despite the discovery of the new variants, COVID-19 transmission numbers continue to drop in L.A. County. In March, the average number of COVID-19 related deaths fell by 86%.

As of Wednesday, L.A. County recorded 552 hospitalizations a steep decline over the highest average recorded on January 7, with 8,046.

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