Los Angeles scientists are trying to find out if the rapidly spreading strain of coronavirus that fuels a huge increase in cases in the UK is behind a similar increase in California.
The mutation is up to 70 percent more contagious, but does not appear more deadly.
COVID-19 is out of control in Los Angeles County and other parts of California despite blockades and other efforts to curb the spread, with a state that spent 2 million cases on Christmas night.
Officials have blamed the increase in meetings and holiday trips, but they also point to more mundane activities such as shopping as possible causes of continued outreach, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is wondering if the new variant of the virus could be behind the huge numbers.
“It simply came to our notice then. Everyone I spoke to said that this acceleration was beyond any model and any expectation, so people say “What broke?” and I have to think that’s partly the tension that was there, ”Garcetti said in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said a public health lab is starting to do gene sequencing to test virus samples collected there, but it will take about a week to get the results.