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:

August 16, 2022

Testing Remains Key to Slowing Spread; Free At-Home Tests Readily Available Across the County - 2,535 New Positive Cases and 13 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

While COVID-19 case rates are declining and LA County entered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) medium community level, knowing your health status remains key to slowing the spread in schools, workplaces, and homes.

Residents should get tested when: they have been exposed, have symptoms, before and after gatherings, and when they travel. Residents who test positive, even with an at-home test, need to isolate to avoid infecting others. Residents who test negative but have symptoms should remain home and test again in 24-48 hours to be sure they aren’t infected.

If a test is still negative, but a person remains ill, they may have another virus/illness. Anyone with symptoms should remain home until they are fever free, and symptoms are resolving. Individuals should call their provider if they have concerns about their illness. If an individual does not have a provider, they can call 2-1-1 to get connected to care.

Free over-the-counter (OTC) tests can be picked up at Department of Public Health vaccination sites and at a variety of locations and partners. Currently, free OTC tests are being distributed at the seven Public Health PODs.

To date, 18,816,372 at-home OTCtests have been distributed county-wide by Public Health, the California Department of Public Health, and the CDC, with many test kits distributed by schools and community partners in communities hard hit by the pandemic. Last week, Public Health distributed 313,780 test kits to partners across numerous sectors, including, but not limited to, 216,000 tests to skilled nursing facilities, 34,000 to community clinics and pharmacies, 19,000 to LA County libraries, 12,600 to early childhood education locations, and 10,000 to community-based organizations.

As schools reopen, 62 public school districts, plus 203 private and charter schools have testing programs in place. Other K-12 schools who need support with their testing capacity can reach out to Public Health at ACDC-Education@ph.lacounty.gov.

There are many FDA-approved rapid OTC tests that can be used for self-testing at home, at a business, or at other community settings. These OTC antigen tests provide results in a few minutes, as opposed to laboratory-based PCR tests that may take several days to process.

Additionally, at-home tests can be ordered at no charge from the federal government at www.covidtests.gov. Residents who have health insurance can receive eight free at-home tests each month for each insured member in their household.

If you purchase an OTC test from a pharmacy, store, or online retailer and are charged for your test, keep your receipt, and submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Individuals with any questions should talk with their health care provider to make sure they understand their viral test results and any next steps. Those without easy access to a health care provider who have questions about their test result and what to do next, can call the Public Health COVID-19 information line at 1-833-540-0473, seven days a week, 8:00 am to 8:30 pm.

“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. “During this time of elevated community transmission, testing when appropriate can help slow the spread by identifying those individuals who are infected in a timely way so they can limit exposing others to the virus. We are hoping that all school children are testing either before going back to school or in the first week of school to avoid unnecessary spread on school campuses. Students participating in certain extracurricular activities that are associated with elevated risk of viral spread, including medium and high contact indoor sports and indoor performing arts, may want to test weekly during times of elevated transmission, to reduce viral spread. Those returning from travel may also want to test themselves before heading to work, or out in the community, to be sure they didn’t bring back the virus along with their great vacation memories. And those gathering indoors should also test before getting together, particularly if gathering with others at high risk for severe illness should they become infected. Taking sensible steps to reduce risk for others benefits everyone as it diminishes the disruptions and heartache associated with COVID-19.”

Today, Public Health reported 13 additional deaths and 2,535 new positive cases. Of the 13 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 18-29, one person was between the ages of 30-49, three people were between the ages of 50-64, four people were between the ages of 65-79, and four people were aged 80 years or older. Of the 13 newly reported deaths, 11 had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 32,961.

Public Health has reported a total of 3,363,706 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 10.4%.

There are 1,022 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,407,063 individuals, with 24% 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

3,363,706

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

3,181,556

-- Long Beach

147,273

-- Pasadena

34,877

Deaths

32,961

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

31,228

-- Long Beach

1,310

-- Pasadena

423

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

- 0 to 4

100178

- 5 to 11

270043

- 12 to 17

264111

- 18 to 29

698486

- 30 to 49

1024005

- 50 to 64

536459

- 65 to 79

215953

- over 80

70091

- Under Investigation

2230

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

- Female

1630681

- Male

1464923

- Other

1480

- Under Investigation

84472

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

5964

- Asian

223233

- Black

161979

- Hispanic/Latino

1384142

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

16212

- White

429235

- Other

360783

- Under Investigation

600008

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

- Hospitalized (Ever)

149,969

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

73

- Asian

3944

- Black

2908

- Hispanic/Latino

15845

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

112

- White

7922

- Other

331

- Under Investigation

93

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

5833

27932

City of Alhambra

21772

25105

City of Arcadia

11164

19330

City of Artesia

5194

30926

City of Avalon

66

1706

City of Azusa

15941

31857

City of Baldwin Park

26688

34764

City of Bell

15616

42981

City of Bell Gardens

15732

36526

City of Bellflower

27389

35234

City of Beverly Hills

10396

30116

City of Bradbury

67

6268

City of Burbank

28506

26596

City of Calabasas

5120

21050

City of Carson

31078

33116

City of Cerritos

11311

22592

City of Claremont

8437

23125

City of Commerce*

5190

39712

City of Compton

37158

37194

City of Covina

17239

35159

City of Cudahy

11315

46474

City of Culver City

9955

24972

City of Diamond Bar

11629

20219

City of Downey

41805

36587

City of Duarte

6398

29061

City of El Monte

38218

32590

City of El Segundo

3647

21726

City of Gardena

19501

31807

City of Glendale

53043

25688

City of Glendora

14140

26799

City of Hawaiian Gardens

4699

32018

City of Hawthorne

26442

29781

City of Hermosa Beach

4194

21322

City of Hidden Hills

353

18677

City of Huntington Park

24691

41509

City of Industry

469

107323

City of Inglewood

33973

29911

City of Irwindale

615

42152

City of La Canada Flintridge

3942

19050

City of La Habra Heights

174

3190

City of La Mirada

12488

25178

City of La Puente

14676

36062

City of La Verne

8399

25236

City of Lakewood

23564

29322

City of Lancaster*

57649

35681

City of Lawndale

9587

28521

City of Lomita

5309

25611

City of Lynwood*

28113

39020

City of Malibu

2622

20230

City of Manhattan Beach

6514

18095

City of Maywood

11797

42059

City of Monrovia

10219

26338

City of Montebello

22543

35018

City of Monterey Park

15040

24156

City of Norwalk

38153

35451

City of Palmdale

60377

37981

City of Palos Verdes Estates

1950

14421

City of Paramount

21297

38015

City of Pico Rivera

24656

38355

City of Pomona

58788

37701

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

6503

15213

City of Redondo Beach

13514

19672

City of Rolling Hills

245

12629

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1311

16159

City of Rosemead

13578

24531

City of San Dimas*

9818

28445

City of San Fernando

11734

47676

City of San Gabriel

9676

23627

City of San Marino

2045

15403

City of Santa Clarita

65151

29557

City of Santa Fe Springs

7291

39703

City of Santa Monica

23239

25138

City of Sierra Madre

2038

18546

City of Signal Hill

3544

30042

City of South El Monte

7484

35834

City of South Gate

43487

44304

City of South Pasadena

5525

21207

City of Temple City

8523

23380

City of Torrance

29630

19850

City of Vernon

339

162201

City of Walnut

6456

21145

City of West Covina

35250

32568

City of West Hollywood

10031

27147

City of Westlake Village

348

4163

City of Whittier

27945

31962

Los Angeles

1379005

34095

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

2936

35796

Los Angeles - Alsace

4107

33001

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

6

15000

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

746

29816

Los Angeles - Arleta

15450

44952

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

4418

30124

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

9026

28999

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2160

25626

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3005

23992

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

3754

28498

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

37286

42915

Los Angeles - Brentwood

7552

24397

Los Angeles - Brookside

132

22719

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2154

30249

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

23158

35470

Los Angeles - Carthay

3777

26297

Los Angeles - Central

16088

41260

Los Angeles - Century City

3246

25375

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

14886

44086

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

11403

30768

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2213

24130

Los Angeles - Chinatown

2461

30682

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

4766

32749

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

4354

28734

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

4743

34297

Los Angeles - Crestview

3438

30243

Los Angeles - Del Rey

7548

25214

Los Angeles - Downtown*

14292

51958

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

11998

30306

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

8587

29320

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4095

28725

Los Angeles - El Sereno

15513

37105

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1640

28711

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3275

32199

Los Angeles - Encino

13433

29737

Los Angeles - Exposition

1157

34787

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

16381

36469

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1108

30778

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3390

38872

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

21343

44985

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

9861

31202

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

3701

34383

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

19304

33174

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

9360

43525

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4231

24831

Los Angeles - Harbor City

8406

28916

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

14176

32514

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

559

23205

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

5747

31866

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

16656

43907

Los Angeles - Highland Park

15529

32091

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

4931

35552

Los Angeles - Hollywood

19439

28480

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

6819

23167

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

10599

37136

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

2896

35873

Los Angeles - Koreatown

14893

28810

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1493

32748

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

14471

34287

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

5309

40425

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5114

33567

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

11707

35914

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

2767

34480

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8014

28275

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1294

41302

Los Angeles - Longwood

1578

36664

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

5087

23542

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

2864

33552

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

717

22951

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

9580

22557

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

855

19610

Los Angeles - Melrose

23728

30540

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4188

27864

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

4403

24482

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

10784

44702

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

7569

31348

Los Angeles - North Hills

23005

37361

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

53891

35590

Los Angeles - Northridge

22836

32718

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

4459

20943

Los Angeles - Pacoima

35779

46479

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

830

21581

Los Angeles - Palms

10538

24017

Los Angeles - Panorama City

30665

40751

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

2836

20884

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

15205

36339

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

526

16458

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3032

27697

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

9362

26307

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

1965

29954

Los Angeles - Regent Square

793

28525

Los Angeles - Reseda

28783<



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