The L452R was present in specimens from the community and from several large outbreaks, including outbreaks where very high numbers of people exposed contracted the virus.
“This variant was identified in several large outbreaks in our county,” said Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr.Los Angeles Public Health officials confirmed the first case of that strain in the area over the weekend.
Though Saturday may mark the strain’s first identified appearance in Los Angeles County, health officials said in recent weeks that it was very likely already circulating in L.A.“Current projections by the experts predict that if left unchecked, this variant could dominate locally by March,” Los Angeles Public Health director Barbara Ferrer said on Friday.