Los Angeles County is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as a new subvariant of the coronavirus, known as FLiRT, gains traction across the state. Recent data indicates that the county recorded an average of 121 new cases per day for the seven-day period ending on Sunday. This marks an increase from the previous week's average of 106 cases per day.

However, these reported cases are likely an underestimate as they only account for lab-confirmed infections in medical facilities, excluding those who test at home or do not test at all. Testing has also decreased recently, leading to a potentially higher number of undetected cases. Experts attribute these rising trends to an anticipated summer wave of infections.

The FLiRT subvariants, named KP.3, KP.2, and KP.1.1, are believed to be approximately 20% more transmissible than the dominant subvariant of the winter, JN.1. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious-disease expert at UC San Francisco, warns of their increasing prevalence. In the two-week period ending on June 8, the FLiRT variants accounted for 55% of estimated COVID specimens in the U.S., up from 28.6% a month earlier.

Last summer, Los Angeles County experienced a peak of 571 new daily cases, while the peak during the winter surged to 621 cases per day. Presently, COVID-positive hospitalizations are also on the rise, with an average of 126 patients hospitalized each day for the week ending on June 8, compared to 102 the previous week. It is important to note that despite the increase, the current numbers of cases and hospitalizations remain relatively low compared to the previous winter.

The rise in cases and hospitalizations in L.A. County suggests an earlier-than-normal start to the typical mid-year COVID surge experienced since the pandemic began. Previously, the mid-year rise occurred in early July, but this year, it began as early as May. Fortunately, the L.A. County Department of Public Health assures the public that there is no corresponding increase in COVID-associated deaths at this time. The county is currently averaging around one COVID-related death per day.

Furthermore, COVID levels in L.A. County's wastewater remain at around 13% of the peak observed in the winter of 2022-23. However, statewide, California is among the six states with high levels of COVID detected in wastewater, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other states with higher levels include Florida, Hawaii, and Montana.

The percentage of positive COVID test results in California continues to climb, with 6.4% of tests coming back positive for the week ending on Monday. This is a significant increase from the 2.4% positivity rate observed the previous month. Last summer's peak positivity rate was 13.1%.

Health experts recommend taking precautionary measures if experiencing symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19. The CDC advises individuals to isolate until at least 24 hours after respiratory symptoms improve and fever subsides. Testing with a rapid test and obtaining a negative result before ending isolation is also recommended by the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

As the FLiRT subvariants drive the surge in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County, residents are urged to remain vigilant. Early symptoms such as a cough or sore throat may not be indicative of a common cold but could be COVID-19. In such cases, frequent testing is advised, especially if the initial results are negative, as the virus may not have reached detectable levels initially. By following these guidelines, individuals can help limit the spread of the virus and protect public health.