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 27, 2023

Despite Recent Rise In COVID-19 Transmission in Los Angeles County, Hospitalization, Death Rates Remain Relatively Stable

As the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) continues to monitor indicators of COVID-19, there is evidence of small increases in transmission while hospitalizations and deaths remain relatively stable, likely reflecting built-up protection against severe illness from COVID-19.

Reported cases and wastewater data provide evidence that COVID-19 is circulating in Los Angeles County at somewhat higher levels than seen earlier this summer. However, this small uptick in transmission is not yet driving significantly greater numbers of new hospitalizations or deaths.

Cases have increased more than 35 percent compared to two weeks ago. Nonetheless, in comparison to case counts last July, cases this July are on average 96 percent lower. While helpful to indicate larger trends, case counts are an undercount of the actual number of infections due to the large number of at-home COVID test results that are not reported to Public Health.

Wastewater concentrations of SARS CoV-2, the virus that results in a COVID-19 infection, are at 16 percent of the most recent winter peak for the week ending July 15, double the 8 percent that was reported two weeks ago, yet still of low concern. Looking at wastewater concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 provides information about transmission levels and is not dependent on cases reported or captured through testing.

The percentage of Emergency Department encounters classified as COVID-19 related is 2.7%, a nominal increase from 2.4% reported two weeks ago and the daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations is 228, a very small increase from 213 reported two weeks ago. The daily average for COVID-19 deaths is 2.6, slightly less than a daily average of 3.4 deaths two weeks prior.

In alignment with the state of California, Los Angeles County has begun counting and reporting only deaths where COVID-19 is coded on the death certificate as the cause of death or a contributing factor. This new definition for categorizing deaths is being applied to all deaths with a date of death on July 1, 2023, or later. Updating the definitions associated with deaths caused by specific diseases is a normal part of disease surveillance, reflecting both changes in the evolution of the disease and resource constraints.

Los Angeles County will also monitor and report three additional indicators of COVID-19 mortality to maximize the ability to detect changes in mortality trends.

First, Public Health will report on the percentage of all Los Angeles County deaths that are due to COVID-19. This provides a measure of the relative burden of COVID on overall mortality in Los Angeles County and captures changes in the impact of COVID over time.

Second, Public Health will track the number of deaths that don’t have COVID-19 listed on the death certificate yet were reported by a medical provider as COVID-associated. This will capture additional deaths likely associated with COVID that may be under-reported on death certificates.

Last, regular updates will be provided by Public Health on the leading causes of death in Los Angeles County. In 2022, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death, behind coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Based on death numbers to date, we anticipate a significant decrease in the ranking of COVID-19 this year. This will capture the contribution of COVID to resident mortality rates and can inform response actions and resource allocations.

“I extend my deepest sympathies to those who are grieving a loved one due to COVID-19, and hope that you are surrounded by strength, compassion and caring during this difficult time,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “Looking at the current patterns we are seeing between cases, hospitalizations, and deaths provides evidence that built-up immunity, through vaccination and prior infections, is likely leading to greater resilience against severe illness. With vaccines and therapeutics remaining effective against the circulating strains of COVID-19, we can take comfort knowing that COVID is now something we can manage.”

For residents who are concerned that they or a loved one have been exposed to COVID-19 or are seeking resources for increased protection, many options remain available in Los Angeles County. The Public Health Call Center is open seven days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The free service will connect callers with a person who can answer their questions, coordinate free telehealth care to receive COVID-19 treatment, and help make a vaccination appointment, including for people who are homebound. The number is 1-833-540-0473.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has replaced COVID-19 Community Levels with Hospital Admission Levels, which can help individuals and communities decide which prevention actions they can take based on the most recent information. Los Angeles County is in the Low Hospital Admission Level with 2.7 weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, reported on July 24 for the seven-day period ending July 25.

Public Health reports COVID-19 data weekly. The following table shows case, wastewater, emergency department, hospitalization, and death data in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks.

Metric

Date of Weekly Report

7/26/2023

7/19/2023

7/12/2023

7/5/2023

Daily average cases

206

202

152

169

SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentration as a percentage of the Winter 2022-2023 peak concentration value

16%

10%

8%

8%

Daily average of the percent of Emergency Department (ED) encounters classified as coronavirus-related

2.7%

2.5%

2.4%

2.0%

Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations

228

221

213

214

Daily average deaths

2.6

2.3

3.4

2.0

Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19

1.2%

0.5%

1.3%

1.0%

All daily averages are 7-day averages. Data for past weeks are subject to change in future reports. Time periods covered by each metric: cases = week ending each Saturday; wastewater = week ending each Saturday, with a one-week lag; ED data = week ending each Sunday; hospitalizations = week ending each Saturday; deaths = week ending each Monday, with a three-week lag; death percentage = week ending Monday, with a one-week lag.

Case data is presented by episode date, an approximation of the date the illness began, and death data is presented by date of death. This is a change from how case and death data were presented prior to July 26, 2023, which was by date of report. Daily average cases and deaths do not include Long Beach and Pasadena.

Public Health will now report case and death counts by episode date and date of death, a change from previously reported weekly counts that represented the number of cases and deaths newly confirmed as COVID-associated for the particular week.

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/COVIDdata including:

COVID-19 Locations & Demographics (data by demographic characteristics and geography, active outbreaks, and citations)

COVID-19 Response Plan

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Skilled Nursing Facility Metrics

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

• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health:

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

• California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlncov/index.html

• CDC Spanish https://espanol.cdc.gov/enes/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

• LA County residents can also call 2-1-1

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Cases through 12:00pm 7/24/2023

Total Cases

Laboratory Confirmed Cases (includes LB and Pas through 6/27/23; excludes LB and Pas after 6/27/23)

3,763,078

Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

36,574

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

- 0 to 4

112,638

- 5 to 11

283,472

- 12 to 17

278,173

- 18 to 29

761,144

- 30 to 49

1,139,549

- 50 to 64

618,474

- 65 to 79

267,529

- over 80

94,540

- Under Investigation

2,566

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

- Female

1,836,889

- Male

1,630,193

- Other

1,852

- Under Investigation

89,151

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

6,742

- Asian

265,509

- Black

187,459

- Hispanic/Latino

1,518,740

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

17,801

- White

494,864

- Other

409,387

- Under Investigation

657,583

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

- Hospitalized (Ever)

181,382

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

81

- Asian

4,538

- Black

3,257

- Hispanic/Latino

16,927

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

116

- White

9,264

- Other

425

- Under Investigation

90

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6381

30556

City of Alhambra

25626

29549

City of Arcadia

13808

23908

City of Artesia

6040

35963

City of Avalon

282

7289

City of Azusa

17574

35120

City of Baldwin Park

29829

38856

City of Bell

17072

46989

City of Bell Gardens

17224

39990

City of Bellflower

30949

39813

City of Beverly Hills

11649

33746

City of Bradbury

71

6642

City of Burbank

33052

30838

City of Calabasas

5885

24195

City of Carson

35143

37448

City of Cerritos

13473

26910

City of Claremont

10471

28700

City of Commerce*

5886

45038

City of Compton

40487

40526

City of Covina

20344

41491

City of Cudahy

12248

50306

City of Culver City

12049

30225

City of Diamond Bar

13769

23940

City of Downey

47038

41166

City of Duarte

7535

34225

City of El Monte

42933

36611

City of El Segundo

4120

24544

City of Gardena

22005

35891

City of Glendale

60659

29376

City of Glendora

15148

28709

City of Hawaiian Gardens

5029

34267

City of Hawthorne

29809

33574

City of Hermosa Beach

4762

24209

City of Hidden Hills

388

20529

City of Huntington Park

26431

44434

City of Industry

996

227918

City of Inglewood

38919

34265

City of Irwindale

878

60178

City of La Canada Flintridge

4583

22148

City of La Habra Heights

216

3960

City of La Mirada

14316

28863

City of La Puente

16062

39467

City of La Verne

9295

27928

City of Lakewood

27240

33897

City of Lancaster*

64470

39902

City of Lawndale

10653

31692

City of Lomita

6158

29707

City of Lynwood*

31451

43653

City of Malibu

2909

22444

City of Manhattan Beach

7492

20812

City of Maywood

12878

45913

City of Monrovia

11919

30719

City of Montebello

25626

39807

City of Monterey Park

17592

28255

City of Norwalk

43297

40231

City of Palmdale

67123

42224

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2294

16965

City of Paramount

22880

40840

City of Pico Rivera

28266

43971

City of Pomona

65887

42254

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

7851

18366

City of Redondo Beach

15735

22905

City of Rolling Hills

302

15567

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1550

19105

City of Rosemead

15349

27731

City of San Dimas*

11169

32359

City of San Fernando

12830

52129

City of San Gabriel

11521

28132

City of San Marino

2436

18348

City of Santa Clarita

73976

33561

City of Santa Fe Springs

7937

43220

City of Santa Monica

26745

28930

City of Sierra Madre

2444

22240

City of Signal Hill

4122

34941

City of South El Monte

8463

40522

City of South Gate

47351

48241

City of South Pasadena

6370

24450

City of Temple City

10772

29549

City of Torrance

34675

23230

City of Vernon

359

171770

City of Walnut

7627

24980

City of West Covina

39790

36763

City of West Hollywood

11370

30770

City of Westlake Village

452

5407

City of Whittier

31509

36038

Los Angeles

1536272

37983

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3224

39307

Los Angeles - Alsace

4550

36561

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

0

0

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

850

33973

Los Angeles - Arleta

16980

49404

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

5111

34849

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

10312

33131

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2473

29339

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3365

26866

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

4235

32149

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

40632

46766

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8495

27443

Los Angeles - Brookside

158

27194

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2315

32509

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

25476

39020

Los Angeles - Carthay

4451

30989

Los Angeles - Central

17096

43845

Los Angeles - Century City

3786

29597

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

16374

48493

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

13049

35210

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2579

28121

Los Angeles - Chinatown

2967

36990

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5354

36790

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

4932

32548

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5381

38911

Los Angeles - Crestview

3989

35090

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8510

28427

Los Angeles - Downtown*

16307

59283

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

13913

35144

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9605

32796

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4528

31762

Los Angeles - El Sereno

17009

40684

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1848

32353

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3588

35277

Los Angeles - Encino

15371

34028

Los Angeles - Exposition

1282

38545

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

18327

40802

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1275

35417

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3817

43768

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

22945

48361

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

11070

35027

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

4207

39084

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

21698

37288

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

10131

47110

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4772

28006

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9471

32580

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

15781

36195

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

651

27024

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6184

34289

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

18125

47779

Los Angeles - Highland Park

17338

35829

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5538

39928

Los Angeles - Hollywood

21829

31982

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7742

26303

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

12026

42136

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3165

39205

Los Angeles - Koreatown

16304

31540

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1609

35293

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

16407

38874

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

6151

46836

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5839

38326

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

12886

39531