With COVID-19 Cases Increasing, Indoor Masking Strongly Recommended to Help Reduce Transmission of Respiratory Illnesses -2,249 New Positive Cases and 8 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

One week before the Thanksgiving holiday, Los Angeles County is reporting rising cases of COVID-19, increased circulation of new Omicron strains, and high transmission of other respiratory illnesses including the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Reducing transmission of these viruses is helped by wearing a well-fitting high filtration mask and results in less disruptions and illness, which can protect our healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed.

The COVID-19 case rate is now over 100 new cases per 100,000 individuals– up from 86 cases per 100,000 one week ago. Indoor masking in all indoor public spaces is now highly recommended, in accordance with the LA County COVID Response Plan. The recommendation covers indoor spaces at schools, retail establishments, entertainment venues, public transit, correctional and detention facilities, and at homeless and emergency shelters. Masking continues to be required for people who have been exposed to COVID during the past 10 days,in healthcare settings and congregate care facilities,and anywhere where it is required by the site. For a more detailed review of masking guidance for LA County, please visit ph.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/masks/RulesAndRecommendations/.

Throughout the pandemic there has been mounting evidence that wearing a mask is an effective way to limit the spread of respiratory viruses. With the current case rate of 100 cases per 100,000 individuals, at a 200 person event, the probability that at least one person at the event is infected with COVID-19 is 45-60%. If the case rate continues to increase and reaches 150 cases per 100,000 individuals, this probability jumps to 60-75%.

The county is also seeing increased circulation of newly emerging COVID-19 strains BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. Combined, the two subvariants comprise 26% of sequenced specimens, surpassing the threshold for High Concern in the county’s Early Alert Signals. This is only the second week of tracking these strains as new subvariants of interest in the LA County Early Alert Signals. Last week this indicator was at 17%.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that, for the week ending November 12, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 combined will account for about 45% of sequenced specimens nationwide and this prediction is the same for Region 9, which includes California plus Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and U.S. territories.

LA County continues to see steep increases in flu positivity, with rates significantly higher than expected for this point during the flu season. Also, RSV percent positivity is still extremely high, surpassing the peak rates seen over the previous four seasons.

Planning ahead and taking straightforward actions can reduce the risk of transmission at Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings. Public Health recommends masking and testing when traveling, testing before l gathering, particularly if gathering with those more vulnerable for serious illness, increasing ventilation by staying outdoors or, if indoors, opening windows and doors and using an air purifying system, and staying home if sick.

A critical strategy for reducing the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 is being up-to-date with COVID vaccines. Residents age 5 years and older are eligible for the new updated Fall COVID-19 booster. This bivalent booster can protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. These two subvariants are different, but they have the same spike protein, and the new Fall bivalent booster offers protection against both. The bivalent booster is also expected to provide protection against the BQ strains, which are sublineages of BA.5.

Unfortunately, in LA County, uptake of the bivalent booster lags. Of the almost 7.5 million residents age 5 years and older who are eligible for a bivalent booster only about 14%, or 1.02 million have received one. Nearly 86% of these residents, or almost 6.5 million people, have not yet received the bivalent booster

The updated Fall COVID-19 boosters, plus flu vaccines, are readily available at Public Health sites, pharmacies, and other locations across the county. Seniors and residents who can’t easily leave their home can contact Public Health telehealth services at (833) 540-0473, seven days a week, from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm to arrange for at-home COVID-19 Fall booster and primary series vaccinations or transportation to a vaccination center. Insurance is not required, and callers can be assisted in multiple languages.

Residents can also go to VaccinateLACounty.com to find nearby vaccination sites, request a mobile vaccination team for your worksite or community event, or an in-home visit if you or someone you know is homebound.

The 7-day average case count in the county is 1,556, a nearly 17% increase from one week ago when the 7-day average of 1,326 cases was reported.

Over the past seven days, the average number of daily COVID-positive patients in LA County hospitals increased to 582, a 26% increase from one week prior when the average number of COVID-positive patients per day was 461.

Deaths, which typically lag hospitalizations by several weeks, have increased slightly from an average of 8 deaths reported each day this past week. The week before, an average of 7 deaths were reported daily.

“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. “In winter, we find ourselves indoors more often – at family holiday gatherings, entertainment events and shopping for gifts – all situations that can increase exposure to COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses like the flu and RSV, especially if not wearing a mask. With rising rates of transmission, there is an increased probability that you may be exposed to someone with COVID-19 as you gather with friends and family, travel, and shop. We can reduce the risk of disrupting holiday plans and exposing those most vulnerable, including very small children, older adults, and essential workers, to dangerous viruses by being up to date on flu and COVID vaccines, wearing a well-fitting high filtration mask when indoors, staying home and away from others if ill, and testing before gathering and before and after traveling. While the three viruses currently circulating at elevated levels, COVID-19, flu, and RSV, are not new, this season is the first time all three are circulating at high levels at the same time. This creates additional risks of overwhelming our health care system, making it difficult for our healthcare workers to meet the high demand for services. We can each make a difference now by protecting ourselves and those around us.”

Today, Public Health reported 8 additional deaths and 2,249 new positive cases. Of the 8 new deaths reported today, 4 people were between the ages of 65-79, and 4 people were aged 80 years or older. Of the 8 newly reported deaths, all had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 34,098.

Public Health has reported a total of 3,515,225 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 6.8%

There are 666 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,693,195 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:

COVID-19 Daily Data (cases, deaths, testing, testing positivity rate, mortality rate, and hospitalizations)
Gender, Age, Race/Ethnicity and City/Community Cases and Deaths
Recovery Metrics
Contact Tracing Metrics
Skilled Nursing Facility Metrics
Citations due to Health Officer Order Noncompliance
Outbreaks:

Residential Congregate Settings
Non-Residential Settings
Homeless Service Settings

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/2019-ncov/index.html
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

For more information:

	Total Cases
Laboratory Confirmed Cases	3,515,225
-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)	3,324,936
-- Long Beach	153,369
-- Pasadena	36,920
Deaths	34,098
-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)	32,327
-- Long Beach	1,337
-- Pasadena	434
Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- 0 to 4	104,967
- 5 to 11	276,455
- 12 to 17	270,690
- 18 to 29	724,167
- 30 to 49	1,069,522
- 50 to 64	566,422
- 65 to 79	233,085
- over 80	77,240
- Under Investigation	2,388
Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- Female	1,708,770
- Male	1,528,079
- Other	1,623
- Under Investigation	86,464
Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- American Indian/Alaska Native	6,312
- Asian	240,285
- Black	171,679
- Hispanic/Latino	1,436,682
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	16,864
- White	454,811
- Other	377,541
- Under Investigation	620,762
Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- Hospitalized (Ever)	159,478
Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- American Indian/Alaska Native	75
- Asian	4,121
- Black	3,024
- Hispanic/Latino	16,201
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	112
- White	8,350
- Other	364
- Under Investigation	80
CITY / COMMUNITY**	Cases	Case Rate
City of Agoura Hills	6063	29033
City of Alhambra	23180	26728
City of Arcadia	12091	20935
City of Artesia	5519	32861
City of Avalon	66	1706
City of Azusa	16661	33295
City of Baldwin Park	27839	36263
City of Bell	16122	44374
City of Bell Gardens	16247	37721
City of Bellflower	28580	36766
City of Beverly Hills	10808	31309
City of Bradbury	67	6268
City of Burbank	30171	28150
City of Calabasas	5427	22312
City of Carson	32524	34657
City of Cerritos	12113	24194
City of Claremont	9092	24921
City of Commerce*	5390	41243
City of Compton	38499	38536
City of Covina	18018	36747
City of Cudahy	11644	47825
City of Culver City	10655	26728
City of Diamond Bar	12406	21570
City of Downey	43797	38330
City of Duarte	6793	30855
City of El Monte	39935	34054
City of El Segundo	3803	22656
City of Gardena	20478	33401
City of Glendale	55886	27064
City of Glendora	14964	28360
City of Hawaiian Gardens	4878	33238
City of Hawthorne	27626	31115
City of Hermosa Beach	4414	22440
City of Hidden Hills	374	19788
City of Huntington Park	25439	42766
City of Industry	524	119908
City of Inglewood	35822	31538
City of Irwindale	635	43523
City of La Canada Flintridge	4193	20263
City of La Habra Heights	175	3208
City of La Mirada	13142	26497
City of La Puente	15337	37686
City of La Verne	8732	26236
City of Lakewood	24825	30891
City of Lancaster*	60391	37378
City of Lawndale	10008	29773
City of Lomita	5573	26885
City of Lynwood*	29140	40446
City of Malibu	2734	21094
City of Manhattan Beach	6828	18967
City of Maywood	12277	43770
City of Monrovia	10809	27858
City of Montebello	23639	36721
City of Monterey Park	16011	25716
City of Norwalk	39894	37069
City of Palmdale	62837	39528
City of Palos Verdes Estates	2046	15131
City of Paramount	22020	39305
City of Pico Rivera	25946	40362
City of Pomona	61574	39488
City of Rancho Palos Verdes	6972	16310
City of Redondo Beach	14339	20873
City of Rolling Hills	260	13402
City of Rolling Hills Estates	1403	17293
City of Rosemead	14318	25868
City of San Dimas*	10358	30009
City of San Fernando	12120	49244
City of San Gabriel	10371	25324
City of San Marino	2204	16600
City of Santa Clarita	68537	31093
City of Santa Fe Springs	7585	41304
City of Santa Monica	24627	26639
City of Sierra Madre	2166	19711
City of Signal Hill	3770	31957
City of South El Monte	7758	37146
City of South Gate	44924	45768
City of South Pasadena	5859	22489
City of Temple City	9136	25061
City of Torrance	31490	21096
City of Vernon	350	167464
City of Walnut	6921	22668
City of West Covina	37003	34188
City of West Hollywood	10523	28478
City of Westlake Village	365	4366
City of Whittier	29223	33424
Los Angeles	1437201	35534
Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie	3034	36991
Los Angeles - Alsace	4238	34054
Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest	6	15000
Los Angeles - Angelino Heights	777	31055
Los Angeles - Arleta	15991	46526
Los Angeles - Atwater Village	4633	31590
Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills	9482	30464
Los Angeles - Bel Air	2260	26812
Los Angeles - Beverly Crest	3142	25086
Los Angeles - Beverlywood	3889	29523
Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*	38424	44224
Los Angeles - Brentwood	7928	25611
Los Angeles - Brookside	136	23408
Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning	2251	31611
Los Angeles - Canoga Park	24024	36796
Los Angeles - Carthay	3974	27668
Los Angeles - Central	16428	42132
Los Angeles - Century City	3439	26884
Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove	15377	45540
Los Angeles - Chatsworth	12014	32417
Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills	2357	25701
Los Angeles - Chinatown	2611	32552
Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran	4940	33945
Los Angeles - Country Club Park	4551	30034
Los Angeles - Crenshaw District	4939	35715
Los Angeles - Crestview	3627	31905
Los Angeles - Del Rey	7928	26483
Los Angeles - Downtown*	15108	54924
Los Angeles - Eagle Rock	12706	32095
Los Angeles - East Hollywood	8919	30454
Los Angeles - Echo Park	4269	29945
Los Angeles - El Sereno	16091	38488
Los Angeles - Elysian Park	1711	29954
Los Angeles - Elysian Valley	3399	33419
Los Angeles - Encino	14182	31396
Los Angeles - Exposition	1215	36530
Los Angeles - Exposition Park	17029	37912
Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights	1179	32750
Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square	3542	40615
Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone	21947	46258
Los Angeles - Glassell Park	10286	32547
Los Angeles - Gramercy Place	3876	36009
Los Angeles - Granada Hills	20208	34727
Los Angeles - Green Meadows	9666	44948
Los Angeles - Hancock Park	4433	26017
Los Angeles - Harbor City	8798	30265
Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway	14819	33989
Los Angeles - Harbor Pines	588	24408
Los Angeles - Harvard Heights	5915	32797
Los Angeles - Harvard Park	17170	45262
Los Angeles - Highland Park	16187	33450
Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown	5078	36611
Los Angeles - Hollywood	20293	29732
Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills	7157	24315
Los Angeles - Hyde Park	11106	38912
Los Angeles - Jefferson Park	3000	37161
Los Angeles - Koreatown	15424	29838
Los Angeles - Lafayette Square	1551	34021
Los Angeles - Lake Balboa	15314	36284
Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace	5507	41933
Los Angeles - Leimert Park	5336	35025
Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights	12136	37230
Los Angeles - Little Armenia	2843	35427
Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh	8321	29358
Los Angeles - Little Tokyo	1391	44398
Los Angeles - Longwood	1643	38174
Los Angeles - Los Feliz	5404	25009
Los Angeles - Manchester Square	3028	35473
Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon	747	23912
Los Angeles - Mar Vista	10149	23896
Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula	911	20894
Los Angeles - Melrose	24743	31846
Los Angeles - Mid-city	4401	29281
Los Angeles - Miracle Mile	4624	25710
Los Angeles - Mission Hills	11228	46543
Los Angeles - Mt. Washington	7896	32702
Los Angeles - North Hills	23867	38761
Los Angeles - North Hollywood	56020	36996
Los Angeles - Northridge	24009	34398
Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades	4683	21995
Los Angeles - Pacoima	36942	47990
Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands	872	22673
Los Angeles - Palms	11203	25533
Los Angeles - Panorama City	31753	42197
Los Angeles - Park La Brea	3003	22113
Los Angeles - Pico-Union	15676	37465
Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey	557	17428
Los Angeles - Playa Vista	3195	29186
Los Angeles - Porter Ranch	9863	27714
Los Angeles - Rancho Park	2102	32043
Los Angeles - Regent Square	830	29856
Los Angeles - Reseda	30188	39401
Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch	1701	36691
Los Angeles - Reynier Village	1154	27294
Los Angeles - San Pedro*	24533	31437
Los Angeles - Shadow Hills	1200	27015
Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks	25783	29549
Los Angeles - Silverlake	12719	28852
Los Angeles - South Carthay	2954	27881
Los Angeles - South Park	16535	43558
Los Angeles - St Elmo Village	1788	39005
Los Angeles - Studio City	6557	29220
Los Angeles - Sun Valley	22043	42000
Los Angeles - Sunland	6453	31620
Los Angeles - Sycamore Square	172	26584
Los Angeles - Sylmar*	39897	48420
Los Angeles - Tarzana	9839	31866
Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry	13035	33015
Los Angeles - Thai Town	2712	27648
Los Angeles - Toluca Lake	2379	27332
Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace	441	33767
Los Angeles - Toluca Woods	482	25942
Los Angeles - Tujunga	8383	30144
Los Angeles - University Hills	875	25518
Los Angeles - University Park	11034	40188
Los Angeles - Valley Glen	10518	35041
Los Angeles - Valley Village	7830	31675
Los Angeles - Van Nuys*	35637	38240
Los Angeles - Venice	8632	25474
Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls	7142	41523
Los Angeles - Vermont Square	3598	46990
Los Angeles - Vermont Vista	17603	42740
Los Angeles - Vernon Central	24070	46290
Los Angeles - Victoria Park	2685	31968
Los Angeles - View Heights	981	26557
Los Angeles - Watts	18225	42708
Los Angeles - Wellington Square	1718	34954
Los Angeles - West Adams	10324	37365
Los Angeles - West Hills	11587	28578
Los Angeles - West Los Angeles	10594	28149
Los Angeles - West Vernon	23442	43699
Los Angeles - Westchester	12523	24268
Los Angeles - Westlake	19791	33343
Los Angeles - Westwood	15359	28385
Los Angeles - Wholesale District*	19721	54585
Los Angeles - Wilmington	22315	39505
Los Angeles - Wilshire Center	15632	31158
Los Angeles - Winnetka	18813	36328
Los Angeles - Woodland Hills	19297	28355
Unincorporated - Acton	1867	23422
Unincorporated - Agua Dulce	933	22439
Unincorporated - Altadena	10792	24741
Unincorporated - Anaverde	381	25265
Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest	100	8032
Unincorporated - Arcadia	2040	25561
Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont	16684	39310
Unincorporated - Athens Village	2675	54625
Unincorporated - Avocado Heights	2638	38937
Unincorporated - Azusa	5822	36563
Unincorporated - Bassett	5692	38415
Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon	195	18173
Unincorporated - Bradbury	112	103704
Unincorporated - Canyon Country	3363	43517
Unincorporated - Castaic*	9236	33967
Unincorporated - Cerritos	179	30494
Unincorporated - Charter Oak	2	10000
Unincorporated - Claremont	143	20370
Unincorporated - Covina	5910	35139
Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)	4519	34381
Unincorporated - Del Aire	1164	26497
Unincorporated - Del Rey	130	40881
Unincorporated - Del Sur	668	27660
Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands	881	35339
Unincorporated - Duarte	1886	42593
Unincorporated - East Covina	89	27052
Unincorporated - East La Mirada	1528	28874
Unincorporated - East Lancaster	51	44737
Unincorporated - East Los Angeles	55986	44693
Unincorporated - East Pasadena	367	5732
Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez	5802	37902
Unincorporated - East Whittier	1355	25537
Unincorporated - El Camino Village	2293	26083
Unincorporated - El Monte	58	40000
Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake	253	15232
Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone	29524	45629
Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon	1	8333
Unincorporated - Glendora	191	28939
Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights	15420	27572
Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway	5	500000
Unincorporated - Hawthorne	721	28679
Unincorporated - Hi Vista	162	14754
Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons	599	42422
Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose	4109	20751
Unincorporated - La Habra Heights	18	2663
Unincorporated - La Rambla	747	36000
Unincorporated - La Verne*	617	30245
Unincorporated - Ladera Heights	1784	25230
Unincorporated - Lake Hughes	196	29341
Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles	3918	30152
Unincorporated - Lake Manor	431	26233
Unincorporated - Lakewood	1	877
Unincorporated - Lennox	7457	33080
Unincorporated - Leona Valley	308	17590
Unincorporated - Littlerock	1372	34121
Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills	316	24364
Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom	1230	34463
Unincorporated - Llano	111	12657
Unincorporated - Marina del Rey	2231	23706
Unincorporated - Miracle Mile	0	0
Unincorporated - Monrovia	1151	29657
Unincorporated - Newhall	100	45455
Unincorporated - North Lancaster	378	31553
Unincorporated - North Whittier	2918	34904
Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel	5642	23473
Unincorporated - Padua Hills	36	16744
Unincorporated - Palmdale	244	28979
Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula	108	17391
Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano	397	20297
Unincorporated - Pellissier Village	355	57351
Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon	22	4783
Unincorporated - Pomona	164	8462
Unincorporated - Quartz Hill	3775	29250
Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez	1119	42052
Unincorporated - Roosevelt	260	27927
Unincorporated - Rosewood	495	38491
Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena	499	41827
Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez	1268	37727
Unincorporated - Rowland Heights	11856	23237
Unincorporated - San Clemente Island	0	0
Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon	43	5012
Unincorporated - San Jose Hills	7469	36937
Unincorporated - San Pasqual	83	4079
Unincorporated - Sand Canyon	59	19156
Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island	755	282772
Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*	3658	19644
Unincorporated - Saugus	409	263871
Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country	109	30618
Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley	108	23736
Unincorporated - South El Monte	724	40334
Unincorporated - South San Gabriel	2719	30730
Unincorporated - South Whittier	20394	34437
Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley	229	29321
Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch	5543	26438
Unincorporated - Sun Village	2102	34824
Unincorporated - Sunrise Village	503	38812
Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain	402	24246
Unincorporated - Val Verde	1015	30674
Unincorporated - Valencia	880	28646
Unincorporated - Valinda	8967	38368
Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills	3371	28973
Unincorporated - Walnut Park	7157	44335
Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley	169	11185
Unincorporated - West Carson	7358	33315
Unincorporated - West Chatsworth	4	33333
Unincorporated - West LA	754	79202
Unincorporated - West Puente Valley	3871	39359
Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez	457	33628
Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos	10012	37185
Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills	229	17615
Unincorporated - Westhills	180	21454
Unincorporated - White Fence Farms	882	23948
Unincorporated - Whittier	916	24207
Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows	69	575000
Unincorporated - Willowbrook	15873	45464
Unincorporated - Wiseburn	1777	29484
- Under Investigation	82030

* --Case and death numbers include cases identified among persons detained at correctional facilities located in the city/community

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