While LA County continues to make progress in slowing the spread of the coronavirus, variants of concern seem to be gaining ground.
While only a few dozen samples are being tested each week and they're not randomly selected, the latest results indicate variants that are believed to be more contagious and may cause more severe illness or reduce immunity are becoming increasingly widespread.
"I think it's probably very safe to say there are more variants circulating now than there were earlier in the year. That is what everybody is worried about," says Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
She the fact that variants of concern account for the majority of the most recently tested samples emphasizes the importance of masking up and other precautions to prevent the spread. It's too soon to tell how the latest reopenings will affect transmission.
For now, Ferrer notes average daily cases are down to the lowest levels seen in about a year.
Hospitalizations are back to pre-winter surge levels.
We're now averaging about 56 COVID-related deaths a day.
The county just reported the third death of a child. No details offered other than the child was between 12 and 17 years old and had an underlying health condition.