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) 240-8144  |  media@ph.lacounty.gov

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For Immediate Release:

January 19, 2024

Respiratory Virus Transmission Indicators Still Heightened from Winter Surge

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) continues to report elevated levels of COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity, underscoring the need for common-sense precautions even as we see slight declines in some indicators.

As COVID-19, flu and RSV continue to circulate in Los Angeles County, residents remain at increased risk of being exposed or exposing others to respiratory infections. People are encouraged to take common-sense precautions, such as getting vaccinated and, if sick, staying home, testing and seeking treatment, to protect themselves and the people around them from respiratory illness.

In Los Angeles County, wastewater concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, were up this week at 66 percent of last year’s winter peak, an increase from 60 percent reported last week, and significantly higher than the 36 percent reported on Dec. 27. Wastewater concentrations provide a more complete picture of COVID-19 transmission levels than reported cases alone.

Some other indicators have declined slightly over the past week but remain elevated. Daily average cases in Los Angeles County fell to 462 from 483 a week earlier. Reported cases do not include home tests, so the actual number of COVID-19 infections in the community is much higher. There was a daily average of 768 COVID-positive hospitalized patients this week compared to 830 last week. However, average daily COVID-19 deaths increased to 5.6 for the week ending Dec. 25, 2023, up from 3.7 reported a week earlier. It is not unexpected to see increases in the death metric later than other metrics due to both the time needed to receive death certificates and the natural progression of the disease.

Los Angeles County’s COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has returned to the Low Level after two weeks at Medium Level. Last Friday, CDC reported 9.8 new COVID-19 hospital admissions in Los Angeles County per 100,000 people for the week ending Jan. 6. Today, CDC reported 9.6 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people for the week ending Jan. 13.

Los Angeles County’s masking requirement for inpatient facilities as outlined in the Health Officer Order posted on Dec. 27, 2023, remains in effect despite the change in CDC Hospital Admission Levels. The new COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level for Los Angeles is hovering just below 10, with rates of 9.8 and 9.6 per 100,000 for the past two weeks. To continue to better protect patients in licensed healthcare facilities that provide inpatient care while COVID-19 transmission remains elevated and the hospital admission rate remains very close to 10, Los Angeles County will maintain required masking by staff and visitors in these facilities. Public Health will reassess the requirement in two weeks to allow for additional time to confirm a sustained decline in the new COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level to Low and to decrease the chance of needing to quickly reinstate the masking requirement in these facilities.

Flu and RSV also have seen small declines while continuing to spread at elevated levels in Los Angeles County. There was an average of 345 influenza-positive hospitalized patients per day for the week ending Jan. 6, a decrease from the average of 425 influenza-positive hospitalized patients per day the week before. For the week ending Jan. 6, 14.8 percent of specimens tested for influenza at sentinel surveillance laboratories were positive, similar to levels seen at the beginning of December. For the same week, 11 percent of specimens tested for RSV at sentinel surveillance laboratories were positive.

To help reduce the spread of respiratory illness, people experiencing respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, sore throat or fever, should test for COVID-19. If they are positive, they should seek treatment, which can decrease the severity and length of illness and reduce the risk of long COVID. Oral antivirals also are available to reduce the chances of getting very sick from the flu.

One of the best and most effective ways to prevent serious illness remains vaccination. Public Health encourages residents to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine for maximum protection against new strains and waning immunity. It makes sense to also get the flu vaccine in January because a second wave of flu in the early spring is not uncommon. To find a vaccination site, visit myturn.ca.gov.

Free vaccines, at-home test kits and medicines to treat both COVID-19 and flu may be accessed through Public Health, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Call the Public Health InfoLine at 1-833-540-0473 with health-related questions and for help making a telehealth appointment or getting a prescription for COVID-19 medication. The InfoLine is free to use and open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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

1/17/2024

1/10/2024

1/3/2024

12/27/2023

Daily average cases

462

483

542

621

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

66%

60%

49%

36%

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

4.2%

4.5%

4.5%

4.8%

Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations

768

830

786

690

Daily average deaths

5.6

3.7

3.4

4.9

Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19

2.6%

3.0%

4.2%

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

· Resp Watch: Viral Respiratory Surveillance for LA County

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://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 01/15/2024

Total Cases

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

3,858,171

Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

37,209

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

- 0 to 4

118,192

- 5 to 11

285,763

- 12 to 17

280,686

- 18 to 29

772,627

- 30 to 49

1,163,456

- 50 to 64

638,380

- 65 to 79

285,951

- over 80

105,481

- Under Investigation

2,642

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

- Female

1,890,614

- Male

1,670,713

- Other

1,961

- Under Investigation

89,890

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

6,949

- Asian

274,199

- Black

195,506

- Hispanic/Latino

1,548,182

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

18,224

- White

513,589

- Other

423,586

- Under Investigation

672,943

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

- Hospitalized (Ever)

193739

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

83

- Asian

4,646

- Black

3,299

- Hispanic/Latino

17,063

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

115

- White

9,481

- Other

506

- Under Investigation

115

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6594

31576

City of Alhambra

26498

30554

City of Arcadia

14381

24900

City of Artesia

6260

37273

City of Avalon

301

7780

City of Azusa

17978

35927

City of Baldwin Park

30466

39685

City of Bell

17309

47641

City of Bell Gardens

17469

40559

City of Bellflower

31645

40709

City of Beverly Hills

12068

34959

City of Bradbury

71

6642

City of Burbank

34091

31807

City of Calabasas

6165

25346

City of Carson

36292

38672

City of Cerritos

13991

27945

City of Claremont

10747

29457

City of Commerce*

5978

45742

City of Compton

41378

41418

City of Covina

20925

42676

City of Cudahy

12411

50975

City of Culver City

12499

31353

City of Diamond Bar

14171

24639

City of Downey

47989

41999

City of Duarte

7752

35211

City of El Monte

43914

37447

City of El Segundo

4260

25378

City of Gardena

22822

37224

City of Glendale

62457

30247

City of Glendora

15683

29723

City of Hawaiian Gardens

5143

35044

City of Hawthorne

30690

34566

City of Hermosa Beach

4926

25043

City of Hidden Hills

399

21111

City of Huntington Park

26780

45021

City of Industry

1065

243707

City of Inglewood

40131

35332

City of Irwindale

910

62371

City of La Canada Flintridge

4780

23100

City of La Habra Heights

216

3960

City of La Mirada

14738

29714

City of La Puente

16357

40192

City of La Verne

9540

28664

City of Lakewood

28068

34927

City of Lancaster*

66329

41053

City of Lawndale

10951

32579

City of Lomita

6391

30831

City of Lynwood*

32041

44472

City of Malibu

3005

23185

City of Manhattan Beach

7765

21570

City of Maywood

13124

46790

City of Monrovia

12318

31747

City of Montebello

26141

40607

City of Monterey Park

18185

29207

City of Norwalk

44173

41045

City of Palmdale

68784

43269

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2393

17697

City of Paramount

23283

41560

City of Pico Rivera

28771

44756

City of Pomona

67372

43206

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

8311

19442

City of Redondo Beach

16383

23848

City of Rolling Hills

317

16340

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1664

20510

City of Rosemead

15729

28417

City of San Dimas*

11446

33161

City of San Fernando

13106

53250

City of San Gabriel

12075

29484

City of San Marino

2546

19176

City of Santa Clarita

76970

34919

City of Santa Fe Springs

8060

43890

City of Santa Monica

27997

30285

City of Sierra Madre

2564

23332

City of Signal Hill

4251

36035

City of South El Monte

8615

41250

City of South Gate

48122

49027

City of South Pasadena

6586

25279

City of Temple City

11106

30465

City of Torrance

36203

24254

City of Vernon

362

173206

City of Walnut

7821

25616

City of West Covina

40786

37683

City of West Hollywood

11691

31639

City of Westlake Village

461

5514

City of Whittier

32103

36718

Los Angeles

1575369

38950

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3286

40063

Los Angeles - Alsace

4666

37493

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

1

2500

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

861

34412

Los Angeles - Arleta

17355

50495

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

5241

35736

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

10699

34374

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2567

30454

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3470

27705

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

4361

33106

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

41303

47538

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8804

28441

Los Angeles - Brookside

158

27194

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2359

33127

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

26105

39984

Los Angeles - Carthay

4578

31874

Los Angeles - Central

17285

44330

Los Angeles - Century City

3953

30902

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

16724

49529

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

13496

36416

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2678

29201

Los Angeles - Chinatown

3063

38187

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5484

37683

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

5054

33353

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5555

40169

Los Angeles - Crestview

4117

36216

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8831

29500

Los Angeles - Downtown*

16586

60297

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

14283

36078

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9862

33674

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4616

32379

Los Angeles - El Sereno

17373

41554

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1890

33088

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3675

36132

Los Angeles - Encino

15824

35031

Los Angeles - Exposition

1327

39898

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

18639

41497

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1307

36306

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3899

44708

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

23318

49147

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

11340

35882

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

4345

40366

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

22460

38597

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

10330

48035

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4889

28693

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9792

33684

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

16245

37259

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

668

27729

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6297

34915

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

18498

48762

Los Angeles - Highland Park

17733

36645

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5634

40620

Los Angeles - Hollywood

22375

32782

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7946

26996

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

12378

43369

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3246

40208

Los Angeles - Koreatown

16630

32171

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1640

35973

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

16830

39876

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

6380

48580

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5997

39363

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

13141

40314

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

3128

38978

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8876

31316

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1567

50016

Los Angeles - Longwood

1852

43030

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

6643

30743

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

3377

39562

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

955

30570

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

11513

27108

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

1004

23028

Los Angeles - Melrose

27027

34786

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4662

31018

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

5127

28507

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

12338

51144

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

8449

34993

Los Angeles - North Hills

26183

42522

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

60909

40225

Los Angeles - Northridge

26654

38188

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

5297

24879

Los Angeles - Pacoima

39793

51693

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

970

25221

Los Angeles - Palms

12605

28728

Los Angeles - Panorama City

34556

45922

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

3357

24720

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

16758

40051

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

639

19994

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3606

32941

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

11090

31162

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2373

36174

Los Angeles - Regent Square

920

33094

Los Angeles - Reseda

33358

43539

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1864

40207

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1220

28855

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

27299

34982

Los Angeles - Shadow Hills

1361

30639

Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks

28878

33096

Los Angeles - Silverlake

13711

31103

Los Angeles - South Carthay

3432

32393

Los Angeles - South Park

17172

45236

Los Angeles - St Elmo Village

1926

42016

Los Angeles - Studio City

7354

32772

Los Angeles - Sun Valley

23884

45508

Los Angeles - Sunland

7151

35040

Los Angeles - Sycamore Square

216

33385

Los Angeles - Sylmar*

43502

52795

Los Angeles - Tarzana

11020

35691

Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry

13825

35016

Los Angeles - Thai Town

2894

29504

Los Angeles - Toluca Lake

2651

30457

Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace

559

42802

Los Angeles - Toluca Woods

507

27287

Los Angeles - Tujunga

9304

33456

Los Angeles - University Hills

958

27938

Los Angeles - University Park

11822

43058

Los Angeles - Valley Glen

11546

38466

Los Angeles - Valley Village

8867

35870

Los Angeles - Van Nuys*

38835

41671

Los Angeles - Venice

9485

27992

Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls

7746

45035

Los Angeles - Vermont Square

3843

50189

Los Angeles - Vermont Vista

19208

46637

Los Angeles - Vernon Central

25117

48304

Los Angeles - Victoria Park

2901

34540

Los Angeles - View Heights

1168

31619

Los Angeles - Watts

20169

47263

Los Angeles - Wellington Square

1895

38555

Los Angeles - West Adams

11382

41194

Los Angeles - West Hills

13558

33439

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles

12240

32522

Los Angeles - West Vernon

25361

47276

Los Angeles - Westchester

14480

28060

Los Angeles - Westlake

21477

36184

Los Angeles - Westwood

17433

32218

Los Angeles - Wholesale District*

22992

63639

Los Angeles - Wilmington

24349

43105

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center

17540

34961

Los Angeles - Winnetka

20689

39951

Los Angeles - Woodland Hills

21661

31829

Unincorporated - Acton

2111

26484

Unincorporated - Agua Dulce

1038

24964

Unincorporated - Altadena

12322

28249

Unincorporated - Anaverde

437

28979

Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest

96

7711

Unincorporated - Arcadia

2358

29545

Unincorporated - Athens Village

2902

59261

Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont

18155

42776

Unincorporated - Avocado Heights

2801

41343

Unincorporated - Azusa

6519

40941

Unincorporated - Bassett

6378

43045

Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon

221

20596

Unincorporated - Bradbury

156

144444

Unincorporated - Canyon Country

3949

51100

Unincorporated - Castaic*

10118

37211

Unincorporated - Cerritos

194

33049

Unincorporated - Charter Oak

10

50000

Unincorporated - Claremont

162

23077

Unincorporated - Covina

6458

38397

Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)

5201

39569

Unincorporated - Del Aire

1267

28841

Unincorporated - Del Rey

152

47799

Unincorporated - Del Sur

726

30062

Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands

1000

40112

Unincorporated - Duarte

2080

46974

Unincorporated - East Covina

92

27964

Unincorporated - East La Mirada

1698

32086

Unincorporated - East Lancaster

46

40351

Unincorporated - East Los Angeles

59895

47813

Unincorporated - East Pasadena

442

6903

Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez

6497

42442

Unincorporated - East Whittier

1485

27987

Unincorporated - El Camino Village

2870

32647

Unincorporated - El Monte

1

690

Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake

307

18483

Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone

30994

47900

Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon

2

16667

Unincorporated - Glendora

203

30758

Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights

17024

30440

Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway

4

4.00E+05

Unincorporated - Hawthorne

787

31305

Unincorporated - Hi Vista

176

16029

Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons

343

24292

Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose

4684

23655

Unincorporated - La Habra Heights

21

3107

Unincorporated - La Rambla

998

48096

Unincorporated - La Verne*

677

33186

Unincorporated - Ladera Heights

2203

31155

Unincorporated - Lake Hughes

214

32036

Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles

4199

32315

Unincorporated - Lake Manor

484

29458

Unincorporated - Lakewood

28

24561

Unincorporated - Lennox

7888

34992

Unincorporated - Leona Valley

322

18389

Unincorporated - Littlerock

1461

36334

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills

373

28759

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom

1360

38106

Unincorporated - Llano

114

12999

Unincorporated - Marina del Rey

2879

30592

Unincorporated - Miracle Mile

0

0

Unincorporated - Monrovia

1169

30121

Unincorporated - Newhall

109

49545

Unincorporated - North Lancaster

519

43322

Unincorporated - North Whittier

3254

38923

Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel

5552

23099

Unincorporated - Padua Hills

39

18140

Unincorporated - Palmdale

274

32542

Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula

137

22061

Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano

448

22904

Unincorporated - Pellissier Village

381

61551

Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon

25

5435

Unincorporated - Pomona

130

6708

Unincorporated - Quartz Hill

4040

31303

Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez

1263

47463

Unincorporated - Roosevelt

289

31042

Unincorporated - Rosewood

532

41369

Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena

568

47611

Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez

1403

41744

Unincorporated - Rowland Heights

12921

25324

Unincorporated - San Clemente Island

0

0

Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

46

5361

Unincorporated - San Jose Hills

8127

40191

Unincorporated - San Pasqual

91

4472

Unincorporated - Sand Canyon

64

20779

Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island

597

223596

Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*

4115

22099

Unincorporated - Saugus

361

232903

Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country

153

42978

Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley

127

27912

Unincorporated - South El Monte

779

43398

Unincorporated - South San Gabriel

3411

38551

Unincorporated - South Whittier

22176

37446

Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley

263

33675

Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch

6313

30111

Unincorporated - Sun Village

2199

36431

Unincorporated - Sunrise Village

610

47068

Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain

459

27684

Unincorporated - Val Verde

1274

38501

Unincorporated - Valencia

995

32389

Unincorporated - Valinda

9927

42476

Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills

3807

32720

Unincorporated - Walnut Park

7584

46980

Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley

205

13567

Unincorporated - West Carson

8815

39912

Unincorporated - West Chatsworth

5

41667

Unincorporated - West LA

989

103887

Unincorporated - West Puente Valley

4361

44342

Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez

515

37896

Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos

11042

41010

Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills

273

21000

Unincorporated - Westhills

213

25387

Unincorporated - White Fence Farms

969

26310

Unincorporated - Whittier

1034

27326

Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows

78

650000

Unincorporated - Willowbrook

17230

49351

Unincorporated - Wiseburn

2007

33300

- Under Investigation

75235

* --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

# # #

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health works to protect health,
prevent disease, and promote health and well-being.





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