‘Double Mutant’ COVID-19 Variant Detected in San Francisco

Stanford Health believes it is the first confirmed case of the variant in the United States

Maximo Michua, 74, holds his sleeve as Kathryne Acuna (R), Director of Ambulatory Clinical Services at Kaiser Permanente, administers his Covid-19 vaccine at a parking structure at Cal Poly Pomona University in Pomona, Calif., on Feb. 5, 2021. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

A “double mutant” strain of the CCP virus believed to be behind a spike of cases in India has been discovered in California’s Bay Area, officials confirmed Sunday.

The first case of the variant, which is feared to be more infectious, was identified and confirmed by the Stanford Clinical Virology Lab through genetic sequencing, Stanford Health Care spokesperson Lisa Kim told the San Francisco Chronicle.