Another 36 COVID-19-related deaths were reported over the weekend, along with nearly 2,100 more new cases. While the highly infectious delta variant of COVID-19 remains the dominant strain in Los Angeles County, health officials have confirmed the presence of what is known as the “mu variant,” which is also described as a highly contagious and potentially able to evade vaccines.

According to the county Department of Public Health, 167 new variants of the virus have been detected in the county, from June 19 to August 21, with most of them recently occurring in July.

The mu variant — officially labeled a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization — was first discovered in Colombia in January, and has since been detected in 39 countries. Some initial reviews of the variant have indicated it has the potential to evade currently available vaccines.

But in a statement Friday, county health officials said “more studies are needed to determine whether mu variant is more contagious, more deadly or more resistant to vaccine and treatments than other COVID-19 strains.”