Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

January 21, 2021

Emergence of a Novel SARS-CoV-2 Strain in Southern California USA

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[pre-print, not peer reviewed] A novel SARS-CoV-2 strain, CAL.20C, emerging from Southern California, was detected through genome sequence analysis. The strain’s increasing dominance has coincided with an increased positivity rate in that region. While first observed in July, CAL.20C accounted for 24% of cases by December 2020. CAL.20C is characterized by multiple mutations in the spike protein, similar to variants emerging from the UK and South Africa. Though predominant in Southern California, CAL.20C has been isolated in samples from New York and Washington DC.

Zhang et al. (Jan 20, 2021). Emergence of a Novel SARS-CoV-2 Strain in Southern California USA. Pre-print downloaded Jan 21 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.18.21249786