Los Angeles, California – The rising COVID numbers in California, fueled in part by new subvariants, indicate an earlier onset of the summer season. The state saw an increase in the percentage of positive COVID tests, rising to 5.3% for the week ending June 3, up from 2.2% the previous month. While the current numbers are still relatively low compared to last summer’s peak positive test rate of 13.1%, the upward trend has drawn the attention of healthcare professionals and officials with the onset of the summer travel season.
Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, noted that COVID numbers are on the rise, particularly among non-hospitalized individuals within their 4.8 million Southern California members. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported an average of 106 COVID cases for the week ending June 2, a significant increase from 67 cases per day the previous month.
The rise in COVID levels is also evident in wastewater across various counties in California, with notable increases in Los Angeles County, Santa Clara County, and San Francisco. Moreover, subvariants such as FLiRT and LB.1 are gaining traction nationally, with FLiRT variants accounting for 55% and LB.1 for 14.9% of estimated COVID specimens in the U.S. The winter-dominant strain JN.1, along with its subvariants, has also been identified as contributors to the current COVID landscape.
Concerns remain regarding the heightened risk of serious illness and death among seniors and immunocompromised individuals who have not received an updated COVID vaccine since September. Vaccination rates among seniors, especially in certain racial and ethnic groups, vary across regions in California. Healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated to protect against the evolving landscape of COVID subvariants.
As officials monitor the situation and urge the public to stay informed and take necessary precautions, the emphasis is on staying up to date on vaccinations, practicing good hygiene, and following health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID. With the ongoing developments in the COVID landscape, including the potential for a combined flu and COVID vaccine in the future, the importance of continued vigilance and proactive measures to curb the spread of the virus remains paramount.