There's mounting evidence that more the more contagious California COVID-19 variant is continuing to circulate.
The California strain has also shown signs of resistance to the current crop of COVID-19 vaccines, according to reporting by the Los Angels Times. Studies have found it to be 20% more transmissible than the other variants now in wide circulation.
LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer says she'll continue to worry until the vast majority of county residents have been vaccinated.
According to the CDC, the California variant aka B.1.427/B.1.429 burst on to the scene in the fall and early winter and by mid-February, the homegrown virus accounted for 52% of samples in the state.
Los Angeles County started lifting restrictions Monday, after getting out of the strictest tier in the state's coronavirus reopening system - purple - and into red.
If cases continue to drop, public health officials says the county could move into the orange tier, and start lifting more restrictions as early as next month.