LISTING OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRESS RELEASES
News Release
Los Angeles County Public Health Logo

313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 806  |  Los Angeles, CA 90012  |  (213) 288-8144  |  media@ph.lacounty.gov

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For Immediate Release:

July 15, 2022

LA County Enters High COVID-19 Community Level and Urges Residents to Take Precautions to Limit Spread of the Highly Transmissible BA.5 Variant - 8,954 New Positive Cases and 16 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

Yesterday, Los Angeles County entered the High Covid Community Level on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Community Levels framework after hospital admissions exceeded 10 new hospital admissions per 100,000 people. The county’s admission rate, at 10.5 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, is an 88% increase when compared to one month ago.

If LA County remains in the High COVID-19 Community Level for two consecutive weeks, universal indoor masking will be implemented on July 29 to help slow the rate of transmission and protect those most vulnerable.

It is important to note that indoor masking is already a required safety measure in many places, including at all healthcare settings, public transit and transit hubs, long-term care settings, shelters and cooling centers, and correctional facilities. Indoor masking also continues to be required at worksites with outbreaks, and is required for all individuals during the 10 days after a COVID diagnosis or exposure when they are around others.

Businesses and employers are allowed to require masks at work, and many have done just that, either by maintaining an indoor masking requirement throughout the pandemic or reinstating one as cases began increasing.

If the county implements universal indoor masking, residents and workers need to wear masks in all indoor public spaces, including shared office spaces, manufacturing facilities, retail stores, and at indoor events. Indoor areas of restaurants and bars, children’s programs, and educational settings, would need to institute universal masking as well.

Masking and testing are both powerful tools that can interrupt transmission thereby reducing risk. Masking lowers risk in two ways: It provides what some call “source control” meaning controlling the amount of virus entering the environment right at the source. When people who are infected wear a mask, they exhale far less virus into the air than infected people who do not mask. Masks also provide protection to the individual wearing a mask, by filtering virus from the air they are breathing. When everyone in a room is masked, safety is enhanced, as there is less virus circulating, and less likelihood that any virus circulating will penetrate the physical barrier of a well-fitting, high filtration mask.

Masks that offer beneficial protection provide both good filtration AND a good fit or seal around the edges. Well-fitting respirator-type masks such as N95s, KN95s, and KN94s offer the most protection because they are made with thicker materials that do the best job filtering out the virus. Note that individuals should not double mask with a respirator.

Testing to know your status is strongly recommended if exposed, if symptomatic, and right before gathering with others, especially if indoors and when gathering with anyone at higher risk of severe illness should they get infected. If attendees at a gathering have all tested negative prior to getting together, it is much less likely that anyone will be exhaling virus particles into the air. As a reminder, individuals can be contagious for COVID and not have symptoms – that can happen very early in their infection, before symptoms start, or it can happen if an individual has an asymptomatic case of COVID.

“I send my deepest sympathies and wishes of peace and comfort to the many families who have lost a loved one from COVID-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “I recognize that when we return to universal indoor masking to help reduce high spread, for many this will feel like a step backwards. For others, indoor masking will feel unnecessary because of the availability of powerful vaccines and therapeutics. The reality is that because we are living with a mutating SARS-CoV-2 virus, there remains uncertainty around the trajectory of the pandemic. The best way to manage the uncertainty and to reduce morbidity and mortality is to remain open to using both the sophisticated tools we now have, such as tests, vaccines, and therapeutics, and the non-pharmaceutical strategies, such as masking, ventilation, and distancing to layer on protections to respond to the conditions at hand. One thing I feel certain about is that, given the rich toolkit at hand, we should not settle for the existing high rates of morbidity and mortality that disproportionately affect those most vulnerable; we do need to continue to take care of each other. With the high rates of transmission fueling the increased risks, sensible safety precautions that can slow down the spread of the virus are warranted and that includes universal indoor masking.”

Today, Public Health reported 16 additional deaths and 8,954 new positive cases. Of the 16 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 50-64, four people were between the ages of 65-79, and 11 people were aged 80 years or older. Of the 16 newly reported deaths, all had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 32,508.

Public Health has reported a total of 3,207,071 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 17.0%.

There are 1,223 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,255,903 individuals, with 23% of people testing positive.

A wide range of data and dashboards on COVID-19 from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are available on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov including:

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

For more information:

Total Cases

Laboratory Confirmed Cases

3,207,071

-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

3,034,156

-- Long Beach

139,720

-- Pasadena

33,195

Deaths

32,508

-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

30,799

-- Long Beach

1,290

-- Pasadena

419

Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

- 0 to 4

94190

- 5 to 11

263013

- 12 to 17

257676

- 18 to 29

670625

- 30 to 49

974288

- 50 to 64

506615

- 65 to 79

200892

- over 80

64670

- Under Investigation

2187

Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

- Female

1551910

- Male

1399153

- Other

1388

- Under Investigation

81705

Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

- American Indian/Alaska Native

5646

- Asian

208512

- Black

153606

- Hispanic/Latino

1332277

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

15490

- White

409629

- Other

341278

- Under Investigation

567718

Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

- Hospitalized (Ever)***

143,633

Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

- American Indian/Alaska Native

72

- Asian

3861

- Black

2868

- Hispanic/Latino

15730

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

111

- White

7761

- Other

310

- Under Investigation

86

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

5596

26797

City of Alhambra

20337

23450

City of Arcadia

10273

17788

City of Artesia

4809

28634

City of Avalon

65

1680

City of Azusa

15143

30262

City of Baldwin Park

25325

32989

City of Bell

15001

41289

City of Bell Gardens

15098

35054

City of Bellflower

25970

33408

City of Beverly Hills

9941

28798

City of Bradbury

67

6268

City of Burbank

26944

25139

City of Calabasas

4861

19985

City of Carson

29390

31317

City of Cerritos

10489

20950

City of Claremont

8123

22265

City of Commerce*

4937

37776

City of Compton

35507

35541

City of Covina

16328

33301

City of Cudahy

10788

44309

City of Culver City

9371

23507

City of Diamond Bar

10931

19005

City of Downey

39830

34858

City of Duarte

5970

27117

City of El Monte

36234

30898

City of El Segundo

3486

20767

City of Gardena

18507

30186

City of Glendale

50587

24498

City of Glendora

13339

25280

City of Hawaiian Gardens

4507

30710

City of Hawthorne

25202

28385

City of Hermosa Beach

4005

20361

City of Hidden Hills

337

17831

City of Huntington Park

23623

39713

City of Industry

452

103432

City of Inglewood

32498

28612

City of Irwindale

591

40507

City of La Canada Flintridge

3732

18035

City of La Habra Heights

170

3116

City of La Mirada

11875

23942

City of La Puente

13944

34263

City of La Verne

7971

23950

City of Lakewood

22147

27559

City of Lancaster*

55192

34160

City of Lawndale

9104

27084

City of Lomita

5034

24285

City of Lynwood*

26778

37167

City of Malibu

2525

19482

City of Manhattan Beach

6239

17331

City of Maywood

11287

40240

City of Monrovia

9623

24802

City of Montebello

21359

33179

City of Monterey Park

13941

22391

City of Norwalk

36364

33789

City of Palmdale

57591

36228

City of Palos Verdes Estates

1835

13570

City of Paramount

20332

36292

City of Pico Rivera

23301

36247

City of Pomona

56276

36090

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

6114

14303

City of Redondo Beach

12728

18528

City of Rolling Hills

234

12062

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1208

14890

City of Rosemead

12709

22961

City of San Dimas*

9273

26866

City of San Fernando

11305

45933

City of San Gabriel

9041

22076

City of San Marino

1914

14416

City of Santa Clarita

62072

28160

City of Santa Fe Springs

6977

37993

City of Santa Monica

21909

23699

City of Sierra Madre

1879

17099

City of Signal Hill

3335

28270

City of South El Monte

7148

34226

City of South Gate

41599

42381

City of South Pasadena

5166

19829

City of Temple City

7869

21586

City of Torrance

27782

18612

City of Vernon

328

156938

City of Walnut

5957

19511

City of West Covina

33381

30841

City of West Hollywood

9653

26124

City of Westlake Village

337

4031

City of Whittier

26602

30426

Los Angeles

1321698

32678

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

2839

34614

Los Angeles - Alsace

3968

31884

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

6

15000

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

716

28617

Los Angeles - Arleta

14859

43232

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

4150

28297

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

8623

27704

Los Angeles - Bel Air

1959

23241

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

2912

23250

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

3605

27367

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

35778

41179

Los Angeles - Brentwood

7215

23308

Los Angeles - Brookside

124

21343

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2076

29153

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

22183

33977

Los Angeles - Carthay

3603

25085

Los Angeles - Central

15625

40072

Los Angeles - Century City

3064

23952

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

14335

42454

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

10776

29076

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2108

22985

Los Angeles - Chinatown

2326

28999

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

4540

31196

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

4146

27361

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

4535

32793

Los Angeles - Crestview

3292

28958

Los Angeles - Del Rey

7181

23988

Los Angeles - Downtown*

13683

49744

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

11360

28695

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

8221

28070

Los Angeles - Echo Park

3943

27659

Los Angeles - El Sereno

14805

35412

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1569

27468

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3126

30734

Los Angeles - Encino

12706

28128

Los Angeles - Exposition

1105

33223

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

15794

35163

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1051

29194

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3283

37645

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

20632

43486

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

9322

29496

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

3535

32841

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

18391

31605

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

9098

42306

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4033

23669

Los Angeles - Harbor City

7975

27434

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

13546

31069

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

524

21752

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

5549

30768

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

16061

42338

Los Angeles - Highland Park

14830

30646

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

4744

34203

Los Angeles - Hollywood

18603

27256

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

6482

22022

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

10175

35650

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

2784

34485

Los Angeles - Koreatown

14366

27791

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1422

31191

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

13853

32822

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

5081

38689

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

4880

32032

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

11208

34384

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

2661

33159

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

7659

27023

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1232

39323

Los Angeles - Longwood

1491

34642

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

4856

22473

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

2697

31596

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

675

21607

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

9089

21400

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

818

18761

Los Angeles - Melrose

22842

29399

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4003

26633

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

4194

23319

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

10372

42995

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

7211

29865

Los Angeles - North Hills

22038

35790

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

51746

34174

Los Angeles - Northridge

21827

31272

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

4316

20271

Los Angeles - Pacoima

34476

44786

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

804

20905

Los Angeles - Palms

9951

22679

Los Angeles - Panorama City

29455

39143

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

2699

19875

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

14715

35168

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

500

15645

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

2885

26354

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

8839

24837

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

1869

28491

Los Angeles - Regent Square

751

27014

Los Angeles - Reseda

27517

35915

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1573

33930

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1042

24645

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

22414



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