Highly Contagious Indian COVID-19 Variant Found In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA — The "Delta" variant of COVID-19 causing massive infection rates in India and case spikes in parts of the United Kingdom has reached Los Angeles County, health officials announced Thursday.

"This increases our urgency to fully vaccinate as many people as possible," Los Angeles County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said.

A major concern for health officials has always been the prospect of unvaccinated pockets of the population spreading more dangerous variants that could become resistant to vaccines. The Delta variant has been here since April, but it hasn't proven to be as destructive locally as it has elsewhere. The variant is far more contagious than previously identified strains. Its inability to get a foothold locally may be attributable to widespread immunity from vaccinations and previous infections.

"Keeping this variant from spreading in our county requires continued effort to get immunizations to unvaccinated residents in our communities and to urge residents to keep taking measures to protect themselves and others," she said. "This is particularly important for those who are not vaccinated who can end up unknowingly being incubators for Delta variants and other variants of concern."

Exact overall numbers of the "Delta" and related "Kappa" strains of the virus detected in the county were not immediately available, but they represent a small proportion of variants detected in 6,285 samples tested since late last year from county residents, either by the county's public health lab or other facilities. Of 1,472 samples tested by the county public health lab, only nine were found to be the Delta variant.

The Delta or B.1.617.2 strain is a major concern for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC, it accounts for 6 percent of cases sequenced nationwide, up from just 1 percent a month ago.

The variant ravaged India and quickly became the dominant variant in the United Kingdom, which is experiencing a corresponding spike in cases. That hasn't been the case so far in Los Angeles.

"We're not yet seeing an appreciable increase in the number of Delta or Kappa variants among the samples sequenced from our residents," Ferrer said. "And this is good news. And it's probably in large part due to the very low transmission rates we currently have in L.A. County."

There is still a lot to be learned about the Delta strain. Though highly transmissible, it's still unclear if the Delta strain causes more severe infection, Ferrer said. But its sheer transmissibility makes it a bigger risk for people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, she added.

According to Ferrer a study by health authorities in England that concluded fully vaccinated people are well protected against the strain. More troublingly, people who have received only one dose of the vaccine are more susceptible to the Delta strain than other forms of the virus.

Hundreds of mobile vaccination clinics have been going to out into communities across Los Angeles this week in an effort to reach people in neighborhoods with low vaccination rates.

Vaccination statistics continue to show lags among Black and Latino communities, particularly among younger residents. And at the same time, those groups have the highest continuing rates of infection, hospitalization and death — rates that could potentially worsen once most health protocols are lifted across the state on Tuesday.

Ferrer said she remains confident the county is prepared for the economic reopening, even with the pace of vaccinations declining. But she said it would "greatly increase our confidence if we saw greater vaccine uptake across the county."

Ferrer announced another vaccination incentive, with season tickets for the Clippers, Chargers or Rams up for grabs for people who get vaccinated between Friday and next Thursday at sites run by the county, city or St. John's Well Child and Family Center. The contest is open to anyone who comes in for a first dose of vaccine, or who shows up for a second-dose appointment and brings along another person who needs a first dose.

The state of California on Friday will hold its second drawing to award $50,000 prizes to another 15 vaccinated residents. On Tuesday, the state will give away $1.5 million each to 10 vaccinated residents.

Long Beach officials, meanwhile, will offer its residents a chance to win either a two-night hotel stay, a $50 cash card or a $50 gift card for Fandango, Target or Walmart if they get vaccinated by Saturday. That contest is open to anyone who comes in for their first dose of vaccine. Long Beach officials said that since they began offering incentives last month, vaccine appointments have doubled.

Ferrer announced another seven COVID-19 deaths in the county on Thursday, lifting the overall death toll to 24,414. Another 220 cases were also announced, raising the cumulative total from throughout the pandemic to 1,245,771.

According to state figures, there were 240 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in the county as of Thursday, down from 244 on Wednesday, with 45 people in intensive care, the same as the previous day.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.