Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Variant Recently Found In California Blamed For Several Outbreaks Already
The Washington Post: Another Coronavirus Variant Linked To Growing Share Of Cases, Several Large Outbreaks, In California
A coronavirus variant first identified in Denmark has ripped through Northern California — including outbreaks at nursing homes, jails and a hospital in the San Jose area — prompting state and local officials to investigate whether it may be more transmissible. California officials disclosed the rise of the variant Sunday night after genetic monitoring linked it to a fast-growing share of new cases, as well as to the outbreaks in Santa Clara county, which includes San Jose. (Nirappil, 1/18)
San Francisco Chronicle: New Coronavirus Variant Found In Bay Area Linked To Massive Kaiser Outbreak
The variant, which is labeled L452R, is different from the highly-transmissible B.1.1.7 variant that was first found in the United Kingdom. ... Cody confirmed that the variant was identified in the massive outbreak at a Kaiser Permanente emergency room in San Jose, which sickened more than 90 staff and patients people and led to one death. An inflatable Christmas costume, powered by an air pump, may have helped the virus to spread. (Morris, 1/17)
Los Angeles Times: Another New Coronavirus Variant Found Across California
The new variant has also been reported in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Francisco, San Bernardino, San Diego, Humboldt, Lake, Mono, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. Scientists say they don’t know how prevalent the strain is, because viral genomic sequencing isn’t performed everywhere across the state or the country. (Nelson, 1/17)
Deadline: Another New Covid-19 Variant Discovered In L.A. Might Be Vaccine Resistant, Researcher Says; Strain First Identified In Denmark
Dr. Charles Chiu, a virologist and professor of laboratory medicine at UCSF who, in concert with state authorities, has been genetically sequencing test samples to identify new variants said early indications are the L452R might be less susceptible to the currently approved vaccines, but more investigation is needed. “This variant carries three mutations, including L452R, in the spike protein, which the virus uses to attach to and enter cells, and is the target of the two vaccines that are currently available in the United States,” said Dr. Chiu. A spike protein mutation could, then, interfere with the vaccine’s efficacy. (Tapp, 1/18)
