California Essential Workers Tackle New Coronavirus Variant

California is struggling with increasing SARS-CoV-2 virus cases, according to The Associated Press, which reported California was the first state to reach 3 million COVID-19 cases. Essential workers like professional cleaners and hospital housekeepers who are working to keep surfaces germ-free now have to face a new risk with the recently discovered coronavirus strain in Los Angeles, Fox News reports.

This is at least the fourth new coronavirus variant the United States faces; three others have originated from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil. Additionally, the two new strains found in Ohio,  one that originated in the state, are causing outbreaks as well.

The new local strain is identified as CAL.20C by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center researchers and was found in over one-third—36.4%—of Los Angeles patients over the last two months in a study. The strain has five different mutations including variant L452R, which was reported on January 17 by the California Department of Public Health. It has been identified in several California counties including Santa Clara, San Diego, San Bernardino, and other Southern California localities.

“The recent surge in COVID-19 positive cases in Southern California coincides with the emergence of CAL.20C,” said Eric Vail, MD, assistant professor of pathology and director of molecular pathology in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at Cedars-Sinai.

Outside of California, the strain was also detected in New York, Washington D.C., and Oceania.