LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Another 36 coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Saturday, as well as nearly 2,100 new cases of the presence of what is known as the mu variant, which is also considered highly contagious and potentially able to bypass vaccines.
According to the county’s Ministry of Health, 167 mu variants were discovered in the county between June 19 and August 21, most of them in July.
What you need to know
- LA County reported an additional 2,100 new COVID-19 cases and 36 deaths on Saturday
- According to the district’s Ministry of Health, 167 mu variants were discovered in the district between June 19 and August 21
- The number of COVID-positive hospital patients in the county fell from 1,593 on Friday to 1,537 on Saturday
- There were 445 patients in the intensive care unit, up from 453 the day before
The mu variant – officially called the “interesting variant” by the World Health Organization – was first discovered in Colombia in January and has since been detected in 39 countries. Some initial reviews of the variant have shown that it has the potential to bypass currently available vaccines. However, in a statement Friday, county health officials said “more studies are needed to determine whether the Mu variant is more contagious, lethal, or more resistant to vaccines and treatments than other COVID-19 strains”.
The delta variant remains the dominant COVID-19 strain circulating in the county. Delta is described by the WHO as a “questionable variant”.
“The identification of variants such as mu and the spread of variants around the world underscores the need for LA Counties to continue to take steps to protect themselves and others,” Ferrer said in a statement Friday. “This is what makes it so important to get vaccinated and take protective measures. These are measures that break the chain of transmission and limit the spread of COVID-19 that will allow the virus to mutate into something that could be more dangerous. “
Of 36 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, 10 were under 50 years old. These deaths brought the cumulative death toll from the virus to 25,434. The health department says 90% of COVID deaths since the pandemic began had previous illnesses.
The number of COVID-positive hospital patients in the county continued to decline steadily, with the number rising to 1,537 on Saturday, up from 1,593 on Friday and 1,641 on Thursday. There were 445 patients in the intensive care unit, up from 453 the day before.
Ferrer noted on Thursday that the number of new infections in the county has decreased. Ferrer said the county’s seven-day cumulative disease rate this week was 159 per 100,000 people, a 16% decrease from the previous week and a 22% decrease from the high of 204 per 100,000 in mid-August.
“It is important to note that we generally see fewer transmissions, but because the Delta variant can infect so many people, we still have a very high number of people who become infected,” Ferrer said Thursday. “And while you’re in LA County, look at our numbers and say we have tons and tons of people vaccinated … but we also have tons and tons of people who are not vaccinated – a very good reservoir for highly contagious variants. “
The rate of people in the district who tested positive for the virus rose from 2.97% the previous day to 3.3% on Friday.
Among the eligible residents of the district aged 12 and over, 75% have received at least one dose of vaccination, while 65% are fully vaccinated.
Ferrer re-announced the effectiveness of the vaccines, saying that of the nearly 5.3 million residents who were fully vaccinated as of Tuesday, 37,614 tested positive for the virus, a rate of 0.71%, while 1,049 were hospitalized which corresponds to a rate of 0.02%. . Of those fully vaccinated, 118 died, a rate of 0.0022%.
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