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:

December 14, 2023

As COVID-19 Transmission Indicators Increase, Common-Sense Precautions offer Important Protection from Exposures, Transmission and Severe Illness

Three weeks after Thanksgiving, Los Angeles County is seeing an increase in indicators of COVID-19 transmission. With cases rising, new variant strains emerging, and the ongoing risk of Long COVID, residents may want to consider taking common sense precautions to limit exposures, transmission and severe illness. This includes wearing a high-filtration mask in high-risk situations, testing when symptomatic, remaining home when sick, and importantly, getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine soon.

This week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is reporting a daily average of 430 new COVID-19 cases per day, 50 more daily cases than reported last week. Due to home tests, the results from which are not reported to Public Health, this is an undercount of the actual number of cases in the community.

Wastewater testing for concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, provides a more comprehensive picture of COVID transmission in Los Angeles County. This week, Public Health is reporting wastewater concentrations that are 38 percent of those seen last year at the peak of the winter surge. This is up from 28 percent reported last week and 12 percent reported one month ago on Nov. 15.

COVID-positive hospitalizations have also increased this past week from 462 last week to 524 this current reporting period.

Holiday gatherings, more travel and increased time spent indoors are all factors likely contributing to transmission increases. Protection against COVID-19 from previous infections and vaccines wanes over time and for this reason, the updated COVID-19 vaccine for 2023-24 is recommended for everyone ages 6 months or older, regardless of prior vaccinations or infections.

The CDC issued a Health Advisory recommending that health care providers administer influenza (flu), COVID-19 and RSV immunizations now, if recommended, given low vaccination rates coupled with ongoing increases in national and international respiratory disease activity. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health echoes this recommendation.

In addition to protection against severe illness and hospitalization, the COVID vaccine can also protect against Long COVID. Results from a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics, show that among people in California who have had a COVID-19 infection, more than one in five have had Long COVID, symptoms lasting for three months or longer. Research studies show that COVID-19 vaccination can provide protection against Long COVID.

In Los Angeles County, the proportion of cases that different strains account for has shifted over recent weeks, signaling that COVID-19 is continuing to evolve with new strains gaining dominance. The updated vaccine is formulated to provide protection for Omicron XBB strains, which are circulating now. Currently, in Los Angeles County, for specimens collected the two-week period ending Nov. 11, strains descended from XBB accounted for 95 percent of sequenced specimens. HV.1 accounted for the highest proportion, at 27 percent, followed by EG.5 at 18 percent.

As a comparison, for specimens collected during the same period in 2022, less than 5 percent of specimens were descendants of Omicron XBB. In many cases, the strains that were dominant when a person was vaccinated or infected in the past may no longer be widely circulating. The updated vaccine can renew protection against severe illness and hospitalization and ensure a person has the most needed protection this winter.

Since early November, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County have been steadily increasing. For the most recent week, based on data through Dec. 2, the CDC is reporting 6.3 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 the week prior. The daily average of the percent of Emergency Department encounters classified as coronavirus-related is 4 percent compared to 3 percent one month ago.

The winter respiratory virus season brings the potential to stress local health care systems if transmission of COVID-19, flu and RSV all continue to increase, especially if health care workers are infected and unable to work. The updated COVID-19 vaccine, along with flu, and for those eligible, RSV vaccines, can help to lower this burden. A recent CDC advisory sent to providers urges conversations with patients on getting vaccinated, tested, and using therapeutics.

The flu vaccine, which can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, is recommended for people 6 months and older. People who are 60 and older should speak with their health care provider about an RSV vaccine. RSV vaccination is also recommended for people who are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant, and RSV immunizations are available for infants under 8 months old.

If Los Angeles County residents have questions about vaccines, such as where to get vaccinated or how to get tested, the Public Health Call Center remains open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 1-833-540-0473. Public Health staff can connect callers with resources and help people schedule vaccination appointments, including in-home vaccinations for those that are homebound. The Public Health Call Center can also be used to access free telehealth services for COVID-19, including a no-cost prescription for Paxlovid, an anti-viral medication to treat COVID-19, if eligible.

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

12/13/2023

12/6/2023

11/29/2023

11/22/2023

Daily average cases

430

380

249

275

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

38%

28%

24%

13%

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

4.0%

3.7%

3.3%

3.6%

Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations

524

462

404

362

Daily average deaths

2.1

1.9

1.6

2.7

Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19

3.0%

2.6%

1.7%

1.3%

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 do not include Long Beach and Pasadena. Daily average deaths include Long Beach and Pasadena for all weeks except 11/29. Long Beach and Pasadena are not included in the daily average death count for 11/29 because data was not available from CDPH due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

• 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 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/2019-ncov/index.html

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – 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


Cases through 12:00pm 12/11/2023

Total Cases

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

3,832,772

Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

37,041

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

- 0 to 4

116,666

- 5 to 11

285,229

- 12 to 17

280,154

- 18 to 29

770,102

- 30 to 49

1,157,377

- 50 to 64

632,924

- 65 to 79

280,614

- over 80

102,082

- Under Investigation

2,631

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

- Female

1,876,474

- Male

1,659,717

- Other

1,914

- Under Investigation

89,674

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

6,898

- Asian

271,942

- Black

193,522

- Hispanic/Latino

1,540,718

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

18,119

- White

508,232

- Other

419,517

- Under Investigation

668,831

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

- Hospitalized (Ever)

190,139

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

83

- Asian

4,621

- Black

3,294

- Hispanic/Latino

17,028

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

114

- White

9,412

- Other

479

- Under Investigation

110

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6513

31188

City of Alhambra

26289

30313

City of Arcadia

14154

24507

City of Artesia

6217

37017

City of Avalon

298

7702

City of Azusa

17865

35701

City of Baldwin Park

30306

39477

City of Bell

17250

47479

City of Bell Gardens

17420

40445

City of Bellflower

31486

40504

City of Beverly Hills

11933

34568

City of Bradbury

71

6642

City of Burbank

33805

31540

City of Calabasas

6084

25013

City of Carson

36007

38368

City of Cerritos

13858

27679

City of Claremont

10676

29262

City of Commerce*

5964

45635

City of Compton

41167

41207

City of Covina

20797

42415

City of Cudahy

12373

50819

City of Culver City

12393

31087

City of Diamond Bar

14070

24463

City of Downey

47703

41748

City of Duarte

7689

34925

City of El Monte

43674

37243

City of El Segundo

4213

25098

City of Gardena

22612

36881

City of Glendale

61884

29969

City of Glendora

15564

29497

City of Hawaiian Gardens

5123

34907

City of Hawthorne

30452

34298

City of Hermosa Beach

4883

24825

City of Hidden Hills

394

20847

City of Huntington Park

26691

44871

City of Industry

1059

242334

City of Inglewood

39818

35057

City of Irwindale

904

61960

City of La Canada Flintridge

4730

22858

City of La Habra Heights

215

3941

City of La Mirada

14645

29527

City of La Puente

16267

39971

City of La Verne

9477

28475

City of Lakewood

27859

34667

City of Lancaster*

65831

40745

City of Lawndale

10873

32347

City of Lomita

6314

30460

City of Lynwood*

31922

44307

City of Malibu

2974

22946

City of Manhattan Beach

7701

21392

City of Maywood

13087

46658

City of Monrovia

12195

31430

City of Montebello

26012

40407

City of Monterey Park

18051

28992

City of Norwalk

43973

40859

City of Palmdale

68325

42980

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2367

17505

City of Paramount

23124

41276

City of Pico Rivera

28643

44557

City of Pomona

66990

42961

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

8164

19098

City of Redondo Beach

16216

23605

City of Rolling Hills

309

15928

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1630

20091

City of Rosemead

15634

28246

City of San Dimas*

11377

32962

City of San Fernando

13029

52938

City of San Gabriel

11960

29203

City of San Marino

2519

18973

City of Santa Clarita

75992

34475

City of Santa Fe Springs

8029

43721

City of Santa Monica

27572

29825

City of Sierra Madre

2524

22968

City of Signal Hill

4208

35670

City of South El Monte

8582

41092

City of South Gate

47932

48833

City of South Pasadena

6536

25087

City of Temple City

11039

30281

City of Torrance

35818

23996

City of Vernon

361

172727

City of Walnut

7776

25468

City of West Covina

40549

37464

City of West Hollywood

11601

31396

City of Westlake Village

459

5490

City of Whittier

31937

36528

Los Angeles

1564904

38691

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3270

39868

Los Angeles - Alsace

4647

37340

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

0

0

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

857

34253

Los Angeles - Arleta

17237

50151

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

5208

35511

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

10592

34031

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2540

30134

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3434

27417

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

4334

32901

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

41153

47365

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8713

28147

Los Angeles - Brookside

158

27194

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2351

33015

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

25957

39757

Los Angeles - Carthay

4550

31679

Los Angeles - Central

17237

44207

Los Angeles - Century City

3904

30519

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

16648

49304

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

13366

36065

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2645

28841

Los Angeles - Chinatown

3036

37851

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5448

37436

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

5018

33116

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5519

39909

Los Angeles - Crestview

4089

35969

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8746

29216

Los Angeles - Downtown*

16525

60076

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

14186

35833

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9791

33431

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4594

32225

Los Angeles - El Sereno

17273

41315

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1878

32878

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3644

35827

Los Angeles - Encino

15696

34747

Los Angeles - Exposition

1322

39747

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

18560

41321

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1300

36111

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3884

44536

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

23226

48954

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

11266

35647

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

4314

40078

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

22243

38224

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

10293

47863

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4862

28535

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9708

33395

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

16130

36995

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

663

27522

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6276

34799

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

18409

48528

Los Angeles - Highland Park

17631

36434

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5613

40469

Los Angeles - Hollywood

22238

32581

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7885

26789

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

12302

43103

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3228

39985

Los Angeles - Koreatown

16556

32028

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1635

35863

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

16706

39582

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

6326

48169

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5944

39015

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

13066

40083

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

3117

38841

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8833

31165

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1540

49154

Los Angeles - Longwood

1842

42797

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

6593

30512

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

3349

39234

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

940

30090

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

11393

26825

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

995

22821

Los Angeles - Melrose

26898

34620

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4628

30792

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

5091

28307

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

12258

50812

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

8412

34840

Los Angeles - North Hills

26012

42244

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

60535

39978

Los Angeles - Northridge

26391

37811

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

5231

24569

Los Angeles - Pacoima

39578

51414

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

965

25091

Los Angeles - Palms

12524

28543

Los Angeles - Panorama City

34340

45635

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

3341

24602

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

16669

39838

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

629

19681

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3569

32603

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

10964

30808

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2337

35625

Los Angeles - Regent Square

906

32590

Los Angeles - Reseda

33050

43137

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1850

39905

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1213

28690

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

27036

34645

Los Angeles - Shadow Hills

1351

30414

Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks

28621

32802

Los Angeles - Silverlake

13629

30917

Los Angeles - South Carthay

3402

32109

Los Angeles - South Park

17125

45112

Los Angeles - St Elmo Village

1910

41667

Los Angeles - Studio City

7270

32398

Los Angeles - Sun Valley

23730

45215

Los Angeles - Sunland

7105

34815

Los Angeles - Sycamore Square

214

33076

Los Angeles - Sylmar*

43192

52419

Los Angeles - Tarzana

10931

35403

Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry

13762

34856

Los Angeles - Thai Town

2872

29279

Los Angeles - Toluca Lake

2631

30227

Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace

543

41577

Los Angeles - Toluca Woods

501

26964

Los Angeles - Tujunga

9242

33233

Los Angeles - University Hills

952

27763

Los Angeles - University Park

11784

42920

Los Angeles - Valley Glen

11488

38273

Los Angeles - Valley Village

8805

35619

Los Angeles - Van Nuys*

38596

41415

Los Angeles - Venice

9411

27773

Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls

7708

44814

Los Angeles - Vermont Square

3824

49941

Los Angeles - Vermont Vista

19113

46407

Los Angeles - Vernon Central

25051

48177

Los Angeles - Victoria Park

2882

34314

Los Angeles - View Heights

1159

31375

Los Angeles - Watts

20082

47059

Los Angeles - Wellington Square

1886

38372

Los Angeles - West Adams

11224

40623

Los Angeles - West Hills

13413

33082

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles

12113

32185

Los Angeles - West Vernon

25207

46989

Los Angeles - Westchester

14382

27870

Los Angeles - Westlake

21361

35989

Los Angeles - Westwood

17299

31971

Los Angeles - Wholesale District*

22815

63149

Los Angeles - Wilmington

24218

42874

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center

17455

34792

Los Angeles - Winnetka

20541

39665

Los Angeles - Woodland Hills

21405

31453

Unincorporated - Acton

2094

26270

Unincorporated - Agua Dulce

1028

24723

Unincorporated - Altadena

12196

27960

Unincorporated - Anaverde

428

28382

Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest

94

7550

Unincorporated - Arcadia

2343

29357

Unincorporated - Athens Village

2874

58689

Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont

18058

42547

Unincorporated - Avocado Heights

2784

41092

Unincorporated - Azusa

6493

40777

Unincorporated - Bassett

6349

42849

Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon

216

20130

Unincorporated - Bradbury

149

137963

Unincorporated - Canyon Country

3902

50492

Unincorporated - Castaic*

10032

36895

Unincorporated - Cerritos

193

32879

Unincorporated - Charter Oak

10

50000

Unincorporated - Claremont

161

22934

Unincorporated - Covina

6430

38231

Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)

5168

39318

Unincorporated - Del Aire

1260

28682

Unincorporated - Del Rey

151

47484

Unincorporated - Del Sur

717

29689

Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands

992

39791

Unincorporated - Duarte

2065

46635

Unincorporated - East Covina

92

27964

Unincorporated - East La Mirada

1687

31878

Unincorporated - East Lancaster

45

39474

Unincorporated - East Los Angeles

59701

47658

Unincorporated - East Pasadena

438

6841

Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez

6471

42272

Unincorporated - East Whittier

1480

27893

Unincorporated - El Camino Village

2842

32329

Unincorporated - El Monte

1

690

Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake

297

17881

Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone

30889

47738

Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon

2

16667

Unincorporated - Glendora

202

30606

Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights

16950

30308

Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway

4

400000

Unincorporated - Hawthorne

780

31026

Unincorporated - Hi Vista

175

15938

Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons

334

23654

Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose

4640

23433

Unincorporated - La Habra Heights

21

3107

Unincorporated - La Rambla

980

47229

Unincorporated - La Verne*

672

32941

Unincorporated - Ladera Heights

2181

30844

Unincorporated - Lake Hughes

208

31138

Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles

4171

32099

Unincorporated - Lake Manor

480

29215

Unincorporated - Lakewood

28

24561

Unincorporated - Lennox

7847

34811

Unincorporated - Leona Valley

319

18218

Unincorporated - Littlerock

1451

36086

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills

370

28527

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom

1351

37854

Unincorporated - Llano

112

12771

Unincorporated - Marina del Rey

2846

30241

Unincorporated - Miracle Mile

0

0

Unincorporated - Monrovia

1161

29915

Unincorporated - Newhall

109

49545

Unincorporated - North Lancaster

517

43155

Unincorporated - North Whittier

3232

38660

Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel

5504

22899

Unincorporated - Padua Hills

38

17674

Unincorporated - Palmdale

273

32423

Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula

135

21739

Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano

444

22699

Unincorporated - Pellissier Village

381

61551

Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon

25

5435

Unincorporated - Pomona

129

6656

Unincorporated - Quartz Hill

4008

31055

Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez

1258

47275

Unincorporated - Roosevelt

288

30934

Unincorporated - Rosewood

526

40902

Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena

563

47192

Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez

1393

41446

Unincorporated - Rowland Heights

12832

25150

Unincorporated - San Clemente Island

0

0

Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

46

5361

Unincorporated - San Jose Hills

8090

40008

Unincorporated - San Pasqual

91

4472

Unincorporated - Sand Canyon

64

20779

Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island

597

223596

Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*

4076

21889

Unincorporated - Saugus

356

229677

Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country

152

42697

Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley

126

27692

Unincorporated - South El Monte

775

43175

Unincorporated - South San Gabriel

3362

37997

Unincorporated - South Whittier

22067

37261

Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley

260

33291

Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch

6237

29748

Unincorporated - Sun Village

2190

36282

Unincorporated - Sunrise Village

606

46759

Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain

454

27382

Unincorporated - Val Verde

1257

37987

Unincorporated - Valencia

978

31836

Unincorporated - Valinda

9869

42228

Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills

3769

32394

Unincorporated - Walnut Park

7566

46869

Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley

199

13170

Unincorporated - West Carson

8708

39428

Unincorporated - West Chatsworth

5

41667

Unincorporated - West LA

960

100840

Unincorporated - West Puente Valley

4345

44179

Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez

514

37822

Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos

10988

40810

Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills

267

20538

Unincorporated - Westhills

208

24791

Unincorporated - White Fence Farms

958

26011

Unincorporated - Whittier

1028

27167

Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows

78

650000

Unincorporated - Willowbrook

17127

49056

Unincorporated - Wiseburn

1980

32852

- Under Investigation

74305

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

Data are subject to change based on further investigation





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