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:

January 04, 2024

As Residents Return to School and Work After Holidays, Public Health Encourages Testing to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission

As Residents Return to School and Work After Holidays, Public Health Encourages Testing to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission

With higher COVID-19 transmission levels in Los Angeles County – along with other respiratory viruses – and many residents returning to school and work after the holidays, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is encouraging residents to test if they have COVID-19 symptoms to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Free at-home COVID-19 tests remain readily available throughout Los Angeles County at libraries, from many community-based organizations, food banks and senior centers, through the federal government by mail and at retail pharmacies with a California health insurance plan. Most at-home tests can be safely used past the expiration date on the box. For more information on how to check home test expiration dates and how to get free COVID-19 tests, visit ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests.

People who test positive for COVID-19, especially those with underlying risk factors, should talk to a health care provider right away about COVID-19 medications. Taking an oral antiviral, such as Paxlovid, can prevent people from becoming very sick, help them feel better sooner and lower their risks of developing Long COVID. Treatment should begin within five days of testing positive or developing symptoms of COVID-19. Medications are widely available by prescription at retail pharmacies and Public Health locations throughout Los Angeles County. For a telehealth appointment or help getting a prescription for COVID-19 medication, residents are urged to contact the Public Health InfoLine at 1-833-540-0473. It’s open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

People with respiratory illness symptoms who test negative for COVID-19 should consider masking indoors around others to avoid spreading another respiratory infection, such as flu or RSV. If symptoms continue, re-testing 48 hours later for COVID is recommended. People who are at high risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses who have tested negative for COVID-19 should talk to their health care provider about getting tested and treated for influenza. Antiviral treatments for influenza are most effective when started early in the course of illness. As with all illness, people with trouble breathing, worsening or unusual symptoms or with chronic health conditions should speak with a health care provider.

Los Angeles County’s COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), last week reached Medium Level. Based on the Los Angeles County Health Officer Order posted on December 27, 2023, when the COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level in Los Angeles County meets or exceeds the CDC’s Medium Level, all healthcare personnel, regardless of COVID-19 and influenza vaccination status, in Licensed Healthcare Facilities that provide Inpatient Care are required to mask while in contact with patients or working in patient-care areas. In addition, all persons visiting a Licensed Healthcare Facility that provides Inpatient Care are required to mask when around patients and while in patient-care areas. Licensed Healthcare Facilities that provide Inpatient Care are defined as:

· General Acute Care Hospitals

· Skilled Nursing Facilities (including Subacute Facilities)

· Intermediate Care Facilities

· Congregate Living Health Facilities

· Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospitals

· Acute Psychiatric Hospitals

· Hospice Facilities

Masking in these facilities will remain in effect until the COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level in Los Angeles County is below the CDC’s Medium Level for at least 14 consecutive days. As of data posted by CDC last Friday, the hospital admission rate for Los Angeles County is 10.5 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people for data through Dec. 23.

Public Health is reporting an average of 542 cases per day, which is a slight decline from the 621 cases per day reported last week. However, there was a lower number of reportable tests conducted for the most recent week, likely influenced by the holidays. Case counts are also an undercount due to the large number of home test results that are not reported.

As of the most recent data available, wastewater concentrations are at 49% of last year’s winter peak, a notable increase from the 36-39% reported over the previous three weeks. Wastewater concentrations provide a more complete picture of COVID-19 transmission levels than reported cases alone.

In Los Angeles County, the average number of COVID-positive hospitalized patients per day increased to 783 from 690 the previous week.

One of the best ways to lower the risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 is by getting the updated vaccine that became available in September 2023. At least one dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone six months and older. The new vaccine is formulated to provide protection against currently circulating COVID-19 strains and increase immunity from prior vaccination or infection that may have decreased over time. Find a vaccination site at myturn.ca.gov.

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.

Weekly COVID-19 Data Table

Metric

Date of Weekly Report

1/3/2024

12/27/2023

12/20/2023

12/13/2023

Daily average cases

542

621

495

430

SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentration as a percentage of the Winter 2022-2023 peak concentration value3

49%

36%

39%

38%

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

4.5%

4.8%

4.6%

4.0%

Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations

783

690

604

525

Daily average deaths

3.4

4.9

3.6

2.1

Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19

4.1%

2.4%

2.1%

2.7%

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 1/3/24. Long Beach and Pasadena are not included in the daily average death count for 1/3/24 because data was not available from CDPH due to the 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

· https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlCDC Spanish https://espanol.cdc.gov/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 01/01/2024

Total Cases

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

3,848,538

Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

37,123

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

- 0 to 4

117,658

- 5 to 11

285,608

- 12 to 17

280,505

- 18 to 29

771,657

- 30 to 49

1,161,104

- 50 to 64

636,255

- 65 to 79

283,920

- over 80

104,205

- Under Investigation

2,633

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

- Female

1,885,213

- Male

1,666,592

- Other

1,943

- Under Investigation

89,797

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

6,933

- Asian

273,262

- Black

194,768

- Hispanic/Latino

1,545,453

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

18,177

- White

511,560

- Other

422,065

- Under Investigation

671,327

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

- Hospitalized (Ever)

192,248

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

83

- Asian

4,631

- Black

3,295

- Hispanic/Latino

17,044

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

115

- White

9,451

- Other

493

- Under Investigation

113

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6568

31451

City of Alhambra

26417

30461

City of Arcadia

14245

24665

City of Artesia

6240

37154

City of Avalon

300

7754

City of Azusa

17938

35847

City of Baldwin Park

30398

39597

City of Bell

17296

47605

City of Bell Gardens

17452

40519

City of Bellflower

31589

40637

City of Beverly Hills

12013

34800

City of Bradbury

71

6642

City of Burbank

33976

31700

City of Calabasas

6134

25219

City of Carson

36175

38547

City of Cerritos

13943

27849

City of Claremont

10723

29391

City of Commerce*

5970

45681

City of Compton

41303

41343

City of Covina

20884

42593

City of Cudahy

12395

50910

City of Culver City

12466

31271

City of Diamond Bar

14138

24581

City of Downey

47893

41915

City of Duarte

7725

35088

City of El Monte

43816

37364

City of El Segundo

4243

25277

City of Gardena

22760

37123

City of Glendale

62209

30126

City of Glendora

15645

29651

City of Hawaiian Gardens

5135

34989

City of Hawthorne

30594

34458

City of Hermosa Beach

4913

24977

City of Hidden Hills

397

21005

City of Huntington Park

26750

44970

City of Industry

1062

243021

City of Inglewood

40005

35221

City of Irwindale

909

62303

City of La Canada Flintridge

4760

23003

City of La Habra Heights

216

3960

City of La Mirada

14707

29652

City of La Puente

16320

40101

City of La Verne

9517

28595

City of Lakewood

27993

34834

City of Lancaster*

66146

40940

City of Lawndale

10917

32478

City of Lomita

6361

30686

City of Lynwood*

31996

44410

City of Malibu

2993

23092

City of Manhattan Beach

7737

21492

City of Maywood

13113

46750

City of Monrovia

12276

31639

City of Montebello

26093

40533

City of Monterey Park

18128

29116

City of Norwalk

44107

40983

City of Palmdale

68628

43171

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2388

17660

City of Paramount

23242

41487

City of Pico Rivera

28722

44680

City of Pomona

67265

43138

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

8256

19314

City of Redondo Beach

16327

23767

City of Rolling Hills

315

16237

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1653

20375

City of Rosemead

15696

28358

City of San Dimas*

11423

33095

City of San Fernando

13072

53112

City of San Gabriel

12001

29304

City of San Marino

2535

19093

City of Santa Clarita

76591

34747

City of Santa Fe Springs

8051

43841

City of Santa Monica

27838

30113

City of Sierra Madre

2550

23205

City of Signal Hill

4229

35848

City of South El Monte

8602

41187

City of South Gate

48059

48962

City of South Pasadena

6565

25199

City of Temple City

11082

30399

City of Torrance

36044

24147

City of Vernon

362

173206

City of Walnut

7804

25560

City of West Covina

40707

37610

City of West Hollywood

11657

31547

City of Westlake Village

460

5502

City of Whittier

32045

36651

Los Angeles

1571355

38851

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3281

40002

Los Angeles - Alsace

4657

37421

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

1

2500

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

860

34373

Los Angeles - Arleta

17305

50349

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

5225

35627

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

10644

34198

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2559

30359

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3456

27593

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

4350

33022

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

41253

47481

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8766

28319

Los Angeles - Brookside

158

27194

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2357

33099

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

26039

39883

Los Angeles - Carthay

4568

31804

Los Angeles - Central

17267

44283

Los Angeles - Century City

3933

30746

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

16695

49443

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

13452

36297

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2669

29103

Los Angeles - Chinatown

3056

38100

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5471

37594

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

5038

33248

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5541

40068

Los Angeles - Crestview

4104

36101

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8798

29389

Los Angeles - Downtown*

16563

60214

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

14245

35982

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9824

33544

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4609

32330

Los Angeles - El Sereno

17333

41459

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1884

32983

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3665

36034

Los Angeles - Encino

15773

34918

Los Angeles - Exposition

1326

39868

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

18604

41419

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1303

36194

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3896

44674

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

23288

49084

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

11310

35787

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

4338

40301

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

22375

38451

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

10312

47952

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4879

28634

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9758

33567

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

16205

37167

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

666

27646

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6292

34888

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

18468

48683

Los Angeles - Highland Park

17684

36544

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5622

40534

Los Angeles - Hollywood

22323

32706

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7924

26921

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

12349

43268

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3239

40121

Los Angeles - Koreatown

16610

32132

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1636

35885

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

16785

39769

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

6360

48428

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5980

39252

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

13116

40237

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

3123

38916

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8862

31267

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1559

49761

Los Angeles - Longwood

1849

42960

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

6627

30669

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

3364

39410

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

950

30410

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

11461

26985

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

1000

22936

Los Angeles - Melrose

26972

34715

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4647

30918

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

5115

28440

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

12310

51028

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

8437

34943

Los Angeles - North Hills

26103

42392

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

60757

40125

Los Angeles - Northridge

26556

38047

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

5274

24771

Los Angeles - Pacoima

39715

51592

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

968

25169

Los Angeles - Palms

12566

28639

Los Angeles - Panorama City

34476

45815

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

3350

24669

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

16734

39993

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

634

19837

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3594

32831

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

11052

31055

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2359

35960

Los Angeles - Regent Square

915

32914

Los Angeles - Reseda

33257

43407

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1858

40078

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1218

28808

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

27191

34843

Los Angeles - Shadow Hills

1357

30549

Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks

28782

32986

Los Angeles - Silverlake

13684

31041

Los Angeles - South Carthay

3424

32317

Los Angeles - South Park

17157

45196

Los Angeles - St Elmo Village

1915

41776

Los Angeles - Studio City

7318

32611

Los Angeles - Sun Valley

23825

45396

Los Angeles - Sunland

7125

34913

Los Angeles - Sycamore Square

215

33230

Los Angeles - Sylmar*

43384

52652

Los Angeles - Tarzana

10985

35578

Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry

13806

34968

Los Angeles - Thai Town

2886

29422

Los Angeles - Toluca Lake

2644

30377

Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace

543

41577

Los Angeles - Toluca Woods

504

27126

Los Angeles - Tujunga

9277

33359

Los Angeles - University Hills

957

27909

Los Angeles - University Park

11804

42992

Los Angeles - Valley Glen

11528

38406

Los Angeles - Valley Village

8841

35765

Los Angeles - Van Nuys*

38750

41580

Los Angeles - Venice

9462

27924

Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls

7733

44959

Los Angeles - Vermont Square

3835

50085

Los Angeles - Vermont Vista

19166

46535

Los Angeles - Vernon Central

25089

48250

Los Angeles - Victoria Park

2893

34445

Los Angeles - View Heights

1164

31511

Los Angeles - Watts

20139

47193

Los Angeles - Wellington Square

1893

38515

Los Angeles - West Adams

11322

40977

Los Angeles - West Hills

13495

33284

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles

12199

32413

Los Angeles - West Vernon

25328

47215

Los Angeles - Westchester

14443

27989

Los Angeles - Westlake

21440

36122

Los Angeles - Westwood

17380

32120

Los Angeles - Wholesale District*

22909

63409

Los Angeles - Wilmington

24290

43001

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center

17515

34911

Los Angeles - Winnetka

20631

39839

Los Angeles - Woodland Hills

21544

31657

Unincorporated - Acton

2108

26446

Unincorporated - Agua Dulce

1034

24868

Unincorporated - Altadena

12267

28122

Unincorporated - Anaverde

432

28647

Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest

96

7711

Unincorporated - Arcadia

2352

29470

Unincorporated - Athens Village

2886

58934

Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont

18109

42668

Unincorporated - Avocado Heights

2793

41225

Unincorporated - Azusa

6511

40891

Unincorporated - Bassett

6369

42984

Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon

221

20596

Unincorporated - Bradbury

155

143519

Unincorporated - Canyon Country

3920

50725

Unincorporated - Castaic*

10079

37067

Unincorporated - Cerritos

194

33049

Unincorporated - Charter Oak

10

50000

Unincorporated - Claremont

162

23077

Unincorporated - Covina

6449

38344

Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)

5193

39509

Unincorporated - Del Aire

1262

28728

Unincorporated - Del Rey

152

47799

Unincorporated - Del Sur

723

29938

Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands

997

39992

Unincorporated - Duarte

2075

46861

Unincorporated - East Covina

92

27964

Unincorporated - East La Mirada

1694

32011

Unincorporated - East Lancaster

46

40351

Unincorporated - East Los Angeles

59825

47757

Unincorporated - East Pasadena

440

6872

Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez

6486

42370

Unincorporated - East Whittier

1483

27949

Unincorporated - El Camino Village

2859

32522

Unincorporated - El Monte

1

690

Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake

302

18182

Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone

30959

47846

Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon

2

16667

Unincorporated - Glendora

203

30758

Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights

17001

30399

Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway

4

4.00E+05

Unincorporated - Hawthorne

783

31146

Unincorporated - Hi Vista

175

15938

Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons

341

24150

Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose

4668

23575

Unincorporated - La Habra Heights

21

3107

Unincorporated - La Rambla

991

47759

Unincorporated - La Verne*

676

33137

Unincorporated - Ladera Heights

2195

31042

Unincorporated - Lake Hughes

212

31737

Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles

4190

32246

Unincorporated - Lake Manor

482

29337

Unincorporated - Lakewood

28

24561

Unincorporated - Lennox

7874

34930

Unincorporated - Leona Valley

322

18389

Unincorporated - Littlerock

1453

36135

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills

372

28682

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom

1357

38022

Unincorporated - Llano

114

12999

Unincorporated - Marina del Rey

2860

30390

Unincorporated - Miracle Mile

0

0

Unincorporated - Monrovia

1167

30070

Unincorporated - Newhall

109

49545

Unincorporated - North Lancaster

518

43239

Unincorporated - North Whittier

3244

38804

Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel

5537

23036

Unincorporated - Padua Hills

39

18140

Unincorporated - Palmdale

274

32542

Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula

137

22061

Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano

446

22802

Unincorporated - Pellissier Village

381

61551

Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon

25

5435

Unincorporated - Pomona

130

6708

Unincorporated - Quartz Hill

4029

31218

Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez

1262

47426

Unincorporated - Roosevelt

289

31042

Unincorporated - Rosewood

529

41135

Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena

567

47527

Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez

1398

41595

Unincorporated - Rowland Heights

12884

25252

Unincorporated - San Clemente Island

0

0

Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

46

5361

Unincorporated - San Jose Hills

8114

40127

Unincorporated - San Pasqual

91

4472

Unincorporated - Sand Canyon

64

20779

Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island

597

223596

Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*

4101

22024

Unincorporated - Saugus

360

232258

Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country

153

42978

Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley

127

27912

Unincorporated - South El Monte

778

43343

Unincorporated - South San Gabriel

3376

38156

Unincorporated - South Whittier

22141

37386

Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley

262

33547

Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch

6289

29996

Unincorporated - Sun Village

2196

36382

Unincorporated - Sunrise Village

610

47068

Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain

458

27624

Unincorporated - Val Verde

1267

38290

Unincorporated - Valencia

987

32129

Unincorporated - Valinda

9903

42373

Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills

3795

32617

Unincorporated - Walnut Park

7578

46943

Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley

203

13435

Unincorporated - West Carson

8770

39708

Unincorporated - West Chatsworth

5

41667

Unincorporated - West LA

973

102206

Unincorporated - West Puente Valley

4354

44270

Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez

514

37822

Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos

11030

40966

Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills

271

20846

Unincorporated - Westhills

209

24911

Unincorporated - White Fence Farms

967

26256

Unincorporated - Whittier

1033

27299

Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows

78

650000

Unincorporated - Willowbrook

17193

49245

Unincorporated - Wiseburn

1996

33118

- Under Investigation

74911

* --Case and death numbers include cases identified among persons detained at cor





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