Despite coronavirus uptick, there’s hope LA County can avoid another surge
LOS ANGELES — Despite a recent rise in coronavirus cases, Los Angeles County’s public health director said this week she remained hopeful the region could avoid another major spike by taking sensible precautions.
The number of newly reported coronavirus cases in L.A. County has risen by 42% over the last two weeks, from an average of 725 a day to 1,030, according to a Los Angeles Times data analysis. On a per capita basis, L.A. County is now averaging about 71 cases a week for every 100,000 residents; transmission went from being moderate to substantial two weeks ago, when the rate climbed above 50.
In central New York state, health officials are closely watching even newer omicron subvariants — BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1 — which are estimated to be 25% more contagious than their parent subvariant, BA.2, that is dominant nationwide.
BA.2.12.1 has been detected in California, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious-diseases expert.
Some experts say people who have eased
