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California has passed 50,000 deaths from COVID-19, a tally that came as Los Angeles County reported a backlog of more than 800 deaths during the fall and winter wave.
The tally comes as daily coronavirus cases and COVID-19 deaths have declined dramatically in recent weeks, though some scientists remain concerned about the potential spread of mutant variants that are more contagious and perhaps more deadly. While California has the highest number of COVID-19 deaths of any state in the country, it ranks 32nd out of 50 states and the District of Columbia for COVID-19 deaths per capita.
The backlog of 806 new deaths from COVID-19 in LA County, which mostly occurred in December and January, was discovered following extensive checks of death records, the director of health said on Wednesday. public Barbara Ferrer.
“It was a time, as you all know, when huge numbers of deaths occurred across the county. And not all of them have been reported [the Department of] Public health due to the volume of files. “
The county typically identifies deaths from COVID-19 through daily reports from healthcare providers. But the county is also conducting an audit of the causes of death listed on death certificates, where the remaining 806 were found.
“The 806 deaths reported today reflect the deaths associated with COVID that occurred during the outbreak that were not reported to [the Department of] Public health through the death report form, but they were subsequently identified through our review of the death certificate, and we’re still doing those reviews, ”Ferrer said.
The additional 806 deaths represent about 8% of the new total of COVID-19 deaths in LA County in December and January, she added.
“It is heartbreaking to report this large number of additional deaths associated with COVID-19. And it’s a devastating reminder of the terrible toll the winter wave has caused so many families across the county, ”Ferrer said.
News of the grim toll came as officials were investigating a cluster of four coronavirus cases at USC, two of which are confirmed to be the most contagious and potentially deadly variant first identified in Britain , B.1.1.7.
The other two cases are still awaiting laboratory confirmation, Ferrer said.
“All of these cases were detected as part of USC’s routine screening and surveillance program,” she said Wednesday. “The individuals are doing well and they are isolated. Close contacts have been identified, notified and are in quarantine. “
Scientific research suggests that currently available COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the UK variant.
“But with the vaccine supply still very limited, local transmission of the potentially more infectious UK variant underscores the need for each of our residents to continue to use all the tools we have to prevent transmission,” said Ferrer, “Including not meeting with people you don’t live with, and walking away and masking yourself whenever you are away from home and around others. ”
There are now 18 confirmed cases of the British variant in LA County; more than 200 in California and more than 1,800 nationwide, with 45 states reporting cases.
Another worrying variant, first identified in South Africa, B.1.351, has not been identified in LA County but has been identified in the Bay Area, which has the only two confirmed cases in California – one in Santa Clara County, and the other in Alameda County. The South African variant has been reported in 46 cases nationwide in 14 states.
A variant related to the South African strain, P.1, first identified in Brazil, has not been identified in California but has been identified in four out of five states. But another Brazilian strain, P.2., Was identified in a sample from the Bay Area.
This week, researchers at UC San Francisco disclosed new information about the local California variant, named B.1.427 / B.1.429, which includes a disturbing mutation called L452R.
New research strongly suggests that the now dominant strain of coronavirus in California not only spreads more easily than its predecessors, but also has the ability to escape antibodies generated by COVID-19 vaccines or a previous infection. It is also associated with more serious illness and death.
These attributes cause some scientists to fear that the local variant could reverse California’s recent progress in reducing new infections – especially if it is able to exchange mutations with other threatening strains. Experts said this underscores the need to vaccinate people as quickly as possible and to continue wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and other public health precautions as the state begins to reopen further.
By the end of next month, the local B.1.427 / B.1.429 strain will likely account for 90% of the state’s coronavirus infections, said Dr Charles Chiu, infectious disease researcher and physician at UC San Francisco.
Ferrer said 40% to 50% of the coronavirus samples sequenced in the LA County Public Health lab since December contain the L452R mutation.
Despite warnings about the variants, officials continued to offer an optimistic message amid the news that a third vaccine, made by Johnson & Johnson, could receive emergency use clearance from Food and United States Drug Administration within days.
And additional vaccines arrived in LA County this week following weather delays in distribution.
“While we still don’t have clarity on the supply chain, in the next week or two, simple math indicates that we should only see more and more supply in the coming weeks. So get ready, ”LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday. “Hope is literally on the horizon.”
On March 1, educators and educators, food and agricultural workers, law enforcement and other emergency responders who are not already eligible for the vaccine can begin to be vaccinated in LA County. Eligible people can sign up for appointments starting next week.
Times editor Kevin Rector contributed to this report.
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