More cases of yet another coronavirus variant have been detected in the Bay Area.
The so-called "California variant" has been found in Marin and Lake counties, and while researchers have not yet fully analyzed this version of the virus, early data indicates it may be more transmissible.
The variant was first discovered in Los Angeles County last July by researchers at Cedars-Sinai and UCSF and has since made up a large portion of samples being sequenced.
Research has not yet confirmed that the variant, known as CAL.20C, is more contagious but it is believed to have contributed to the overwhelming winter surge.
The UK, Brazil and South Africa variants of the virus have also been found in the Bay Area.
San Francisco Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax said this week while variants are cause for concern, "we know what to do to slow the spread of these variants. It's even more important to wear those masks, socially distance and avoid gatherings outside of your household."
He stressed everyone should get the vaccine as soon as they become eligible.
Epidemiologists and public health experts have repeatedly said that the way to prevent new and harmful mutations is to slow the spread of the virus.
The U.S. remains hampered in its ability to detect virus variants due to limited laboratory capacity nationwide.
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