More contagious variant of coronavirus found in California, governor says

The most contagious variant of the coronavirus has been found in southern California, Gov. Gavin NewsomBeverly Hills restaurant apologizes for handing out invitations to indoor ‘speakeasy’ restaurants as part of state ban campaign to recall Newsom receives first six-figure donations Historic premieres of 2020 and what to watch in the new year PLUS (D) said Wednesday.

Newsom made the announcement at the start of a live conversation with Anthony FauciAnthony FauciBiden offers sober warning on the road ahead on the Fauci coronavirus: ‘I haven’t’ considered running for Fauci election: you ‘have to assume’ the pandemic will get worse MORE, the government’s leading infectious disease expert, and did not provide details on the case except saying it was in southern California.

The development comes after Colorado officials on Tuesday announced the first confirmed US case of the new variant, which was first identified in the UK.

Colorado has announced one confirmed case and one possible case, meaning California may have the third known case in the United States

Officials told a press conference later Wednesday that the case of the new variant in California is a man in his 30s in San Diego County with no travel history, again indicating that the variant is spreading in a to some extent in the community. The man is not hospitalized and contact tracing is underway. There was family contact, officials said.

“Because there is no travel history, we believe this is not an isolated case in San Diego County,” County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said.

Fauci said in conversation with Newsom that the new case came as no surprise and that he expects more cases of the new variant to be reported in other states soon.

“I’m not surprised that you have a case and probably more cases in California, and we’ll probably see reports from other states,” he said.

Fauci assured that although the new variant appears to be more transmissible, it does not appear to cause more serious disease or escape vaccine protection.

“There is no indication that it increases virulence,” Fauci said while noting that the National Institutes of Health and other labs are studying it closely for more information.

The announcement comes as southern California has been hit particularly hard by the virus and hospitals there face enormous tensions.

Health officials are urging people to apply the same precautions against the new variant of the virus, including wearing masks, avoiding indoor gatherings with other households, maintaining distance and washing their hands.

Updated at 18:21