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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 02, 2022

As COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Rise, Boosters and Masking in Indoor Public Spaces Strongly Recommended - 4,744 New Positive Cases and 14 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

LA County is experiencing large increases in the number of reported COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The 7-day average case count in the county is 3,053, a nearly 44% increase from one week ago when the 7-day average of 2,121 cases was reported. And over the past seven days, the average number of daily COVID-positive patients in LA County hospitals is 1,056, an increase of 39% from last week when the average number of COVID-positive patients per day was 760.

The county’s case rate is now 185 new cases per 100,000 people, and the COVID-19 hospital admission rate is 11.9 per 100,000 people, moving the CDC community level designation from low to medium. While moving into the Medium Community Level will not change required mitigation strategies in LA County, it does signal that case rates and hospitalizations are elevated and the county could be in the High Community Level as soon as next week if the case rate reaches 200 cases per 100,000 people.

Emerging strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are likely contributing to higher COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations across Los Angeles County. With high prevalence of the new dominant strains BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 (descendant of BA.5), all residents should follow common sense precautions that work to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses, including wearing a high-quality mask that fits well in indoor public spaces and getting the new updated Fall COVID-19 booster.

Current county data shows that the subvariant Omicron BA.5 is rapidly losing dominance. The subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. now account for the second and third greatest number of sequenced specimens respectively, and combined, the BQ strains make up 38% of specimens, surpassing BA.5, which is at about 36%.

With mounting evidence that the new bivalent booster, specifically formulated to provide protection against BA.4 and BA.5, provides significant additional protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, increasing the number of people boosted can mitigate the waning immunity of the monovalent doses. Unfortunately, only 16% of eligible LA County residents have received the updated bivalent booster – and six million residents are currently eligible who have not yet taken advantage of this additional defense. Everyone in LA County who is 5 years or older, and received their primary series or last booster more than two months ago, is eligible for the updated bivalent booster.

Within people age 65 and older, who statistically are more likely to have severe outcomes from COVID-19, uptake, while double that of the general population, remains concerningly low. Nearly 70% of older eligible residents, or about 880,000 people, have not yet received the updated 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.

Telehealth services can also be used to speak to a provider about therapeutics if you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are having symptoms. Taken within 5 days of symptom onset, Paxlovid can decrease the risk of hospitalization. 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.

“I want to acknowledge the loss felt in local communities, particularly over the holidays, and to send my condolences to those who are grieving a loved one who has died,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “While there still is uncertainty about what the impact of COVID-19 will be this winter, there is mounting evidence that we are entering another COVID-19 surge. In some ways this surge is likely to be different – we know more about COVID, have tools to help mitigate severe outcomes, and we are more aware of symptoms and when to take action. On the flip side, this will be the first winter where we are facing rising levels of COVID, with emerging new strains we know less about, along with unusually high flu and RSV activity. There is a common line of thinking that the pandemic is over, that COVID-19 is no longer of concern. But given both the increases in hospitalizations and the lack of certainty in the winter trajectory for COVID-19, it’s important to continue common-sense mitigation strategies that we know work to limit transmission and illness, including masking and being up-to-date on vaccines and boosters.”

Today, Public Health reported 14 additional deaths and 4,744 new positive cases. Of the 14 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 30 to 49, one person was between the ages of 50-64, five people were between the ages of 65-79, and six people were aged 80 years or older. For information on the one death reported by the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Of the 14 newly reported deaths, 12 had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 34,213.

Public Health has reported a total of 3,552,019 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 12.2%.

There are 1,171 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,736,245 individuals, with 25% 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:

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

For more information:

Total Cases

Laboratory Confirmed Cases

3,552,019

-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

3,359,846

-- Long Beach

154,699

-- Pasadena

37,474

Deaths

34,213

-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

32,438

-- Long Beach

1,339

-- Pasadena

436

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

- 0 to 4

105,988

- 5 to 11

277,267

- 12 to 17

271,718

- 18 to 29

729,895

- 30 to 49

1,080,459

- 50 to 64

574,539

- 65 to 79

238,034

- over 80

79,554

- Under Investigation

2,392

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

- Female

1,727,647

- Male

1,543,673

- Other

1,648

- Under Investigation

86,878

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

6,400

- Asian

244,348

- Black

173,849

- Hispanic/Latino

1,448,609

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

17,017

- White

460,573

- Other

382,419

- Under Investigation

626,631

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

- Hospitalized (Ever)

161,042

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

77

- Asian

4,143

- Black

3,032

- Hispanic/Latino

16,234

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

113

- White

8,398

- Other

362

- Under Investigation

79

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6127

29340

City of Alhambra

23536

27139

City of Arcadia

12322

21335

City of Artesia

5582

33236

City of Avalon

66

1706

City of Azusa

16811

33595

City of Baldwin Park

28187

36717

City of Bell

16229

44669

City of Bell Gardens

16354

37970

City of Bellflower

28855

37120

City of Beverly Hills

10915

31619

City of Bradbury

67

6268

City of Burbank

30619

28568

City of Calabasas

5486

22555

City of Carson

32878

35034

City of Cerritos

12301

24569

City of Claremont

9240

25326

City of Commerce*

5442

41641

City of Compton

38818

38855

City of Covina

18230

37180

City of Cudahy

11724

48154

City of Culver City

10823

27149

City of Diamond Bar

12583

21878

City of Downey

44205

38687

City of Duarte

6877

31236

City of El Monte

40438

34483

City of El Segundo

3848

22924

City of Gardena

20764

33867

City of Glendale

56673

27445

City of Glendora

15091

28601

City of Hawaiian Gardens

4912

33470

City of Hawthorne

27942

31471

City of Hermosa Beach

4452

22633

City of Hidden Hills

376

19894

City of Huntington Park

25623

43075

City of Industry

531

121510

City of Inglewood

36226

31894

City of Irwindale

639

43797

City of La Canada Flintridge

4261

20592

City of La Habra Heights

177

3245

City of La Mirada

13268

26751

City of La Puente

15482

38042

City of La Verne

8803

26450

City of Lakewood

25078

31206

City of Lancaster*

61021

37768

City of Lawndale

10098

30041

City of Lomita

5634

27179

City of Lynwood*

29367

40761

City of Malibu

2758

21279

City of Manhattan Beach

6918

19217

City of Maywood

12363

44076

City of Monrovia

10952

28227

City of Montebello

23944

37195

City of Monterey Park

16244

26090

City of Norwalk

40374

37515

City of Palmdale

63430

39901

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2066

15279

City of Paramount

22193

39614

City of Pico Rivera

26234

40810

City of Pomona

62140

39851

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

7056

16506

City of Redondo Beach

14513

21126

City of Rolling Hills

265

13660

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1415

17441

City of Rosemead

14498

26193

City of San Dimas*

10464

30316

City of San Fernando

12230

49691

City of San Gabriel

10571

25812

City of San Marino

2241

16879

City of Santa Clarita

69354

31464

City of Santa Fe Springs

7633

41565

City of Santa Monica

24966

27006

City of Sierra Madre

2195

19975

City of Signal Hill

3818

32364

City of South El Monte

7832

37501

City of South Gate

45252

46103

City of South Pasadena

5957

22865

City of Temple City

9291

25486

City of Torrance

31885

21361

City of Vernon

351

167943

City of Walnut

7043

23068

City of West Covina

37476

34625

City of West Hollywood

10623

28749

City of Westlake Village

368

4402

City of Whittier

29490

33729

Los Angeles

1451696

35892

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3059

37296

Los Angeles - Alsace

4287

34448

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

6

15000

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

782

31255

Los Angeles - Arleta

16169

47044

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

4687

31958

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

9588

30805

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2284

27097

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3163

25253

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

3933

29857

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

38751

44601

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8022

25915

Los Angeles - Brookside

137

23580

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2270

31878

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

24244

37133

Los Angeles - Carthay

4025

28023

Los Angeles - Central

16524

42378

Los Angeles - Century City

3493

27306

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

15483

45854

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

12163

32819

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2382

25973

Los Angeles - Chinatown

2651

33051

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

4967

34130

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

4632

30568

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

4995

36120

Los Angeles - Crestview

3680

32372

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8043

26867

Los Angeles - Downtown*

15281

55553

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

12904

32595

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9027

30823

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4297

30142

Los Angeles - El Sereno

16240

38844

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1725

30200

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3436

33782

Los Angeles - Encino

14355

31779

Los Angeles - Exposition

1223

36771

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

17197

38286

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1187

32972

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3579

41039

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

22077

46532

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

10414

32952

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

3907

36297

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

20443

35131

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

9731

45250

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4469

26228

Los Angeles - Harbor City

8890

30581

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

14977

34351

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

597

24782

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

5952

33002

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

17273

45533

Los Angeles - Highland Park

16370

33829

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5125

36950

Los Angeles - Hollywood

20525

30071

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7241

24601

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

11218

39305

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3022

37433

Los Angeles - Koreatown

15547

30076

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1567

34372

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

15478

36673

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

5580

42488

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5399

35438

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

12223

37497

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

2906

36212

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8404

29651

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1409

44973

Los Angeles - Longwood

1663

38638

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

5466

25296

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

3066

35918

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

754

24136

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

10257

24151

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

927

21261

Los Angeles - Melrose

25055

32247

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4444

29568

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

4694

26100

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

11344

47024

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

7979

33046

Los Angeles - North Hills

24106

39149

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

56568

37358

Los Angeles - Northridge

24274

34778

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

4739

22258

Los Angeles - Pacoima

37323

48485

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

878

22829

Los Angeles - Palms

11318

25795

Los Angeles - Panorama City

32107

42667

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

3029

22305

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

15831

37835

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

563

17616

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3219

29405

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

9954

27970

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2125

32393

Los An





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