Newer coronavirus subvariants ticking up in California amid concerns of winter wave
The number of coronavirus-infected patients in California more than tripled over the past week, and in the meantime deaths spiked to more than double their normal rate even as the number of intensive care unit beds in the state plunged in a sign of desperation.
Here’s a look at how other states are dealing with the rise in a different new coronavirus subvariant:
California now has 4,085 additional suspected or confirmed cases of person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus in its community — the largest increase over a single week of any state, according to data provided by state public health officials Wednesday. The new cases represented a spike from the 3,854 cases recorded last week, according to data compiled by the California Department of Public Health. Another 924 presumptive cases were also confirmed to be infected at the same time.
“We are all in this fight together,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a video posted on the department’s website Wednesday evening. “We’re on the same team. … What we need right now is all of our best people on the ground working hard to stop the spread of this virus.”
The new cases were confirmed in California from the beginning of the week, including three on Monday alone and a spike of two in three days. Health officials attributed the increase to a change in protocol that was supposed to be initiated earlier but wasn’t, according to the department’s press release.
“We had a change in protocol on the way we were supposed to be following up and testing. We are hoping the change in procedures helps to reduce transmission,” said Dr. Mona A. Mkhatlana, deputy director of the state department of public health. “We are also asking all patients to stay home and not go back to their homes after treatment. That is an important part of the strategy to decrease risk of transmission in our community.”
The increase marks a significant departure from recent trends. The most recent