The first cases of California infection caused by the South African coronavirus variant were confirmed in the bay area, Governor Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday.
Newsom said one case was found in Alameda County and the other in Santa Clara County. He did not share any additional information about those who tested positive or how they may have contracted the viral variant, called B.1.351. Newsom said the cases involving the South African strain were reported “a few hours ago”.
The announcement comes amid growing concern that variants of the coronavirus, some of which are believed to be more contagious, may be spreading more frequently at a time when California is still recovering from the devastation of winter.
Although currently available vaccines appear to be effective against most variants of the coronavirus that have been identified to this point, the strain that fueled the resurgence of COVID-19 in South Africa has not been slowed by a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford . In a study involving a comparatively small group of about 2,000 people who were relatively young and healthy, the vaccine did not reduce the risk of mild to moderate disease.
Authorities were counting on the AstraZeneca vaccine to protect their frontline healthcare professionals, but the results of the study led the government to shelve plans for an inoculation campaign that would have started this month.
A COVID-19 vaccine developed by the American company Novavax also proved to be almost 90% effective against all types of COVID-19 when tested in Britain, but only 49% effective in South Africa. Another developed by Johnson & Johnson reduced the risk of moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 by 72% in clinical trial participants in the US, but was only 57% effective in South Africa.
None of these three vaccines have been authorized for use in the United States.
California has also confirmed 159 identifiable cases of infection caused by the coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom, designated as B.1.1.7. This is of particular concern to health authorities, as it is believed to be 50% more transmissible than the conventional variety.
Given the ease with which this variant can spread, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict that it may become the dominant coronavirus strain across the country by the end of March.
The United Kingdom variant was identified in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Alameda, San Mateo and Yolo counties.
LA County officials confirmed on Monday the fourth and fifth cases of variant B.1.1.7. Public health director Barbara Ferrer said it is clear that there are a good number of mutant strains circulating in LA County.
If we have a more infectious virus, said Ferrer, “it is easier for people to be infected. … The variants are worrying, because if we let our guard down, the most infectious strains can become dominant. And that just makes the spread of the virus much easier. “
Orange County on Monday confirmed his first case of the UK variant on a resident who reported no history of international travel, “which means that there are probably more cases in OC,” tweeted the county Health Agency.
Authorities on Monday also confirmed the first case of the UK variant in the Sacramento region – in Yolo County, west of the state capital – after an individual was determined to have the strain and “may have acquired the variant through trips outside the community “, according to a demonstration issued by UC Davis and the city of Davis.
At least 138 cases involving the UK variant have been confirmed in San Diego County, with 50 likely cases there. AN UC San Diego scientist warned government officials that the UK voltage it is so communicable that its spread – combined with rejection of mask use and physical distance guidelines, as it did throughout California in the fall – can result in an even worse peak in two months than occurred in winter.
Times staff writers Melissa Healy and Emily Baumgaertner contributed to this report.