To Help Reduce Post-Holiday Surge, Follow Three Simple Steps: Test, Mask, and Stay Home When Sick - 3,410 New Positive Cases and 28 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

As people prepare for New Year’s celebrations, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) urges everyone to practice three simple steps: testing before gathering, masking while indoors or in very crowded outdoor spaces, and staying home when sick.

Although this week, Los Angeles County remains in Medium Community Level, based on its case rate and hospitalization numbers, winter holiday travel and celebrations could lead to a rise in COVID-19 cases, similar to what was experienced after Thanksgiving. A few sensible precautions can help prevent another post-holiday surge.

Step 1: To reduce the spread of the disease, Los Angeles County residents are asked to take an at-home COVID-19 test before attending New Year’s celebrations. This is especially important for people who have recently traveled or attended other gatherings. Some people with COVID-19 may be pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic and unaware of their infection status. Without testing, they may unintentionally spread the disease to others, including to people at higher risk for severe illness should they become infected.

COVID-19 health risks are highest for people over 50 and people who are immunocompromised or have underlying health issues.

Tests are readily available over the counter and insurance companies are required to reimburse the cost of eight tests per month per member. Each household may also receive four free tests shipped to their home by ordering at COVIDtests.gov. For more information on testing, visit ph.lacounty.gov/covidtests.

Step 2: Residents are asked to continue to wear a mask in indoor public spaces and in very crowded outdoor spaces. Masking is one of the strongest tools to help prevent transmission and a post-holiday COVID-19 surge. For the best protection, well-fitting, high-filtration masks, preferably N95s, KN95s or KF94s, should be worn securely over the nose and mouth.

While some people may experience COVID-19 symptoms, such as a fever, coughing and sneezing, a few days after exposure, it can take up to 10 days for others to test positive or display symptoms of infection. During that time, they can shed virus and unintentionally expose others to the disease.

In order to avoid outbreaks at businesses and schools, Public Health officials ask that everyone wear a mask for at least the first 10 days when returning to work and school after their winter holiday break.

Step 3: Residents should stay home when sick. Even if they test negative for COVID-19, other respiratory illnesses are circulating at high levels this winter, including flu and respiratory syncytial virus, and both viruses can cause serious illness, hospitalizations, and death.

Mortality remains very high for COVID in Los Angeles County, especially when compared to other respiratory viruses. Since October 2022, 746 county residents died of COVID-related illness. By comparison, over this same time period, there were 43 known flu-related deaths in Los Angeles County, though CDC modeling data estimates the true number was closer to 360 people.

With COVID-19 transmission levels still high, Los Angeles County residents are urged to wash their hands frequently, get the new bivalent booster and, if they test positive and have symptoms, such as fever, coughing, sneezing, unusual fatigue or muscle aches, take oral antiviral medications within five days of symptom onset.

The new bivalent booster can protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. The bivalent booster is also expected to provide protection against the newer BQ strains, which are sublineages of BA.5. More than 6 million residents who are eligible for the booster have not yet received it and are encouraged to do so.

These updated boosters, plus flu vaccines, are readily available at Public Health sites, pharmacies, and other locations across the county. 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. Insurance is not required, and callers can be assisted in multiple languages, regardless of immigration status.

If a person tests positive for COVID-19 and has symptoms, oral antiviral medications, such as Paxlovid, are available by prescription. A person may speak to their provider, access telehealth services by contacting Public Health at 1-833-540-0473 or find resources at ph.lacounty.gov/covidmedicines. These medications should be started within five days of symptom onset and may be taken at home.

Resources are available for anyone who tests positive or has COVID symptoms, even if their health care provider is closed for the holiday. Test to treat sites, where tests and prescriptions for medications, if appropriate, are open throughout Los Angeles County. To find a site or for more information, visit ph.lacounty.gov/covidmedicines.

“For those who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, I extend my deepest sympathies. I wish you peace and healing in the upcoming year,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “I am hopeful that we can get through this winter without the devastation witnessed during our previous two winter surges, while recognizing that there are still significant risks, especially with the potential of a new COVID strain. Collectively, our actions can make for a safe and healthy 2023 and I do want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who has been taking steps to prevent transmission, helping to lower our numbers and save people’s lives.”

The 7-day average case count in the county is 2,359, a 9% decrease from one week ago when the 7-day average of 2,595 cases was reported.

And over the past seven days, the average number of daily COVID-positive patients in LA County hospitals is 1,207, nearly the same as last week when the average number of COVID-positive patients per day was 1,235.

The county is currently reporting an average of 16 deaths per day, a welcomed decrease from the average of 22 deaths reported per day a week ago.

Today, Public Health reported 28 additional deaths and 3,410 new positive cases. Of the 28 new deaths reported today, three people were between the ages of 50 to 64, eight people were between the ages of 65 to 79, and 14 people were aged 80 years or older. For information on the three deaths reported by the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Of the 28 newly reported deaths, 24 had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 34,671.

Public Health has reported a total of 3,631,736 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 15.0 %.

There are 1,249 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,821,824 individuals, with 25% of people testing positive.

Cases through 12:00pm 12/29/2022
	Total Cases
Laboratory Confirmed Cases	3,631,736
-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)	3,434,586
-- Long Beach	158,553
-- Pasadena	38,597
Deaths	34,671
-- Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)	32,882
-- Long Beach	1,353
-- Pasadena	436
Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- 0 to 4	108,232
- 5 to 11	279,378
- 12 to 17	274,116
- 18 to 29	741,934
- 30 to 49	1,104,060
- 50 to 64	591,777
- 65 to 79	248,163
- over 80	84,504
- Under Investigation	2,422
Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- Female	1,768,568
- Male	1,576,439
- Other	1,707
- Under Investigation	87,872
Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- American Indian/Alaska Native	6,531
- Asian	252,895
- Black	178,787
- Hispanic/Latino	1,475,768
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	17,338
- White	472,843
- Other	392,213
- Under Investigation	638,211
Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- Hospitalized (Ever)	166,208
Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
- American Indian/Alaska Native	77
- Asian	4,220
- Black	3,091
- Hispanic/Latino	16,368
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	113
- White	8,554
- Other	375
- Under Investigation	84
CITY / COMMUNITY**	Cases	Case Rate
City of Agoura Hills	6188	29632
City of Alhambra	24503	28254
City of Arcadia	12892	22322
City of Artesia	5735	34147
City of Avalon	285	7366
City of Azusa	17045	34063
City of Baldwin Park	28819	37540
City of Bell	16633	45781
City of Bell Gardens	16769	38933
City of Bellflower	29833	38378
City of Beverly Hills	11172	32364
City of Bradbury	69	6455
City of Burbank	31646	29526
City of Calabasas	5634	23163
City of Carson	33780	35995
City of Cerritos	12765	25496
City of Claremont	9786	26823
City of Commerce*	5699	43607
City of Compton	39232	39270
City of Covina	19584	39941
City of Cudahy	11994	49263
City of Culver City	11297	28338
City of Diamond Bar	13095	22768
City of Downey	45342	39682
City of Duarte	7180	32613
City of El Monte	41510	35397
City of El Segundo	3940	23472
City of Gardena	21189	34560
City of Glendale	58268	28218
City of Glendora	14552	27579
City of Hawaiian Gardens	4885	33286
City of Hawthorne	28635	32251
City of Hermosa Beach	4588	23325
City of Hidden Hills	375	19841
City of Huntington Park	25819	43405
City of Industry	968	221510
City of Inglewood	37473	32992
City of Irwindale	864	59219
City of La Canada Flintridge	4387	21200
City of La Habra Heights	207	3795
City of La Mirada	13678	27577
City of La Puente	15629	38403
City of La Verne	9008	27066
City of Lakewood	26050	32416
City of Lancaster*	62536	38705
City of Lawndale	10296	30630
City of Lomita	5832	28134
City of Lynwood*	30395	42188
City of Malibu	2774	21403
City of Manhattan Beach	7190	19973
City of Maywood	12572	44822
City of Monrovia	11491	29616
City of Montebello	24676	38332
City of Monterey Park	16851	27065
City of Norwalk	41606	38659
City of Palmdale	65390	41134
City of Palos Verdes Estates	2161	15981
City of Paramount	22096	39441
City of Pico Rivera	27123	42192
City of Pomona	63584	40777
City of Rancho Palos Verdes	7314	17110
City of Redondo Beach	14990	21820
City of Rolling Hills	276	14227
City of Rolling Hills Estates	1434	17675
City of Rosemead	14792	26724
City of San Dimas*	10756	31162
City of San Fernando	12500	50788
City of San Gabriel	10965	26774
City of San Marino	2316	17444
City of Santa Clarita	71261	32329
City of Santa Fe Springs	7663	41728
City of Santa Monica	25471	27552
City of Sierra Madre	2293	20866
City of Signal Hill	3946	33449
City of South El Monte	8193	39229
City of South Gate	46170	47038
City of South Pasadena	6065	23279
City of Temple City	10330	28336
City of Torrance	32830	21994
City of Vernon	355	169856
City of Walnut	7254	23759
City of West Covina	38265	35354
City of West Hollywood	10930	29580
City of Westlake Village	432	5167
City of Whittier	30244	34591
Los Angeles	1486306	36748
Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie	3120	38040
Los Angeles - Alsace	4373	35139
Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest	0	0
Los Angeles - Angelino Heights	819	32734
Los Angeles - Arleta	16507	48027
Los Angeles - Atwater Village	4929	33608
Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills	9898	31801
Los Angeles - Bel Air	2370	28117
Los Angeles - Beverly Crest	3241	25876
Los Angeles - Beverlywood	4101	31132
Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*	39670	45659
Los Angeles - Brentwood	8147	26319
Los Angeles - Brookside	148	25473
Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning	2250	31597
Los Angeles - Canoga Park	24669	37784
Los Angeles - Carthay	4203	29263
Los Angeles - Central	16803	43093
Los Angeles - Century City	3612	28236
Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove	15959	47264
Los Angeles - Chatsworth	12530	33809
Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills	2461	26835
Los Angeles - Chinatown	2807	34996
Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran	5159	35450
Los Angeles - Country Club Park	4773	31499
Los Angeles - Crenshaw District	5193	37552
Los Angeles - Crestview	3850	33867
Los Angeles - Del Rey	8140	27191
Los Angeles - Downtown*	15725	57167
Los Angeles - Eagle Rock	13299	33593
Los Angeles - East Hollywood	9283	31697
Los Angeles - Echo Park	4379	30717
Los Angeles - El Sereno	16553	39593
Los Angeles - Elysian Park	1798	31478
Los Angeles - Elysian Valley	3485	34264
Los Angeles - Encino	14758	32671
Los Angeles - Exposition	1235	37132
Los Angeles - Exposition Park	17840	39718
Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights	1230	34167
Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square	3686	42266
Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone	22471	47362
Los Angeles - Glassell Park	10695	33841
Los Angeles - Gramercy Place	4011	37263
Los Angeles - Granada Hills	20953	36007
Los Angeles - Green Meadows	9858	45841
Los Angeles - Hancock Park	4605	27026
Los Angeles - Harbor City	9126	31393
Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway	15331	35163
Los Angeles - Harbor Pines	625	25944
Los Angeles - Harvard Heights	6042	33502
Los Angeles - Harvard Park	17610	46422
Los Angeles - Highland Park	16764	34643
Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown	5375	38753
Los Angeles - Hollywood	21029	30810
Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills	7431	25246
Los Angeles - Hyde Park	11621	40717
Los Angeles - Jefferson Park	3075	38090
Los Angeles - Koreatown	15895	30749
Los Angeles - Lafayette Square	1552	34043
Los Angeles - Lake Balboa	15857	37570
Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace	6015	45801
Los Angeles - Leimert Park	5599	36751
Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights	12515	38393
Los Angeles - Little Armenia	2980	37134
Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh	8497	29979
Los Angeles - Little Tokyo	1428	45579
Los Angeles - Longwood	1740	40428
Los Angeles - Los Feliz	6173	28568
Los Angeles - Manchester Square	3116	36504
Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon	873	27945
Los Angeles - Mar Vista	10556	24855
Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula	931	21353
Los Angeles - Melrose	25607	32958
Los Angeles - Mid-city	4368	29062
Los Angeles - Miracle Mile	4776	26555
Los Angeles - Mission Hills	11636	48234
Los Angeles - Mt. Washington	8033	33270
Los Angeles - North Hills	24722	40149
Los Angeles - North Hollywood	57756	38143
Los Angeles - Northridge	24883	35651
Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades	4867	22859
Los Angeles - Pacoima	38133	49537
Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands	899	23375
Los Angeles - Palms	11617	26476
Los Angeles - Panorama City	32849	43653
Los Angeles - Park La Brea	3157	23247
Los Angeles - Pico-Union	15988	38210
Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey	580	18148
Los Angeles - Playa Vista	3319	30319
Los Angeles - Porter Ranch	10247	28793
Los Angeles - Rancho Park	2171	33095
Los Angeles - Regent Square	859	30899
Los Angeles - Reseda	31203	40726
Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch	1761	37985
Los Angeles - Reynier Village	1141	26987
Los Angeles - San Pedro*	25437	32596
Los Angeles - Shadow Hills	1269	28568
Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks	26805	30721
Los Angeles - Silverlake	12902	29268
Los Angeles - South Carthay	3170	29920
Los Angeles - South Park	16653	43869
Los Angeles - St Elmo Village	1832	39965
Los Angeles - Studio City	6822	30401
Los Angeles - Sun Valley	22748	43344
Los Angeles - Sunland	6687	32767
Los Angeles - Sycamore Square	207	31994
Los Angeles - Sylmar*	41273	50090
Los Angeles - Tarzana	10240	33165
Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry	13263	33593
Los Angeles - Thai Town	2740	27934
Los Angeles - Toluca Lake	2483	28527
Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace	501	38361
Los Angeles - Toluca Woods	462	24865
Los Angeles - Tujunga	8769	31532
Los Angeles - University Hills	908	26480
Los Angeles - University Park	11412	41565
Los Angeles - Valley Glen	10949	36477
Los Angeles - Valley Village	8311	33621
Los Angeles - Van Nuys*	36910	39606
Los Angeles - Venice	8961	26445
Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls	7318	42547
Los Angeles - Vermont Square	3682	48087
Los Angeles - Vermont Vista	18340	44530
Los Angeles - Vernon Central	24408	46940
Los Angeles - Victoria Park	2771	32992
Los Angeles - View Heights	1080	29237
Los Angeles - Watts	19251	45112
Los Angeles - Wellington Square	1796	36541
Los Angeles - West Adams	10648	38538
Los Angeles - West Hills	12569	31000
Los Angeles - West Los Angeles	11205	29772
Los Angeles - West Vernon	24262	45228
Los Angeles - Westchester	13324	25820
Los Angeles - Westlake	20374	34326
Los Angeles - Westwood	16007	29583
Los Angeles - Wholesale District*	21114	58441
Los Angeles - Wilmington	23156	40994
Los Angeles - Wilshire Center	16762	33410
Los Angeles - Winnetka	19443	37545
Los Angeles - Woodland Hills	19957	29325
Unincorporated - Acton	1962	24614
Unincorporated - Agua Dulce	969	23304
Unincorporated - Altadena	11258	25809
Unincorporated - Anaverde	410	27188
Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest	89	7149
Unincorporated - Arcadia	2163	27102
Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont	17144	40394
Unincorporated - Athens Village	2751	56177
Unincorporated - Avocado Heights	2685	39631
Unincorporated - Azusa	6226	39101
Unincorporated - Bassett	6055	40865
Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon	198	18453
Unincorporated - Bradbury	121	112037
Unincorporated - Canyon Country	3646	47179
Unincorporated - Castaic*	9408	34600
Unincorporated - Cerritos	181	30835
Unincorporated - Charter Oak	10	50000
Unincorporated - Claremont	157	22365
Unincorporated - Covina	6081	36156
Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)	4953	37683
Unincorporated - Del Aire	1190	27089
Unincorporated - Del Rey	143	44969
Unincorporated - Del Sur	686	28406
Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands	941	37746
Unincorporated - Duarte	1961	44286
Unincorporated - East Covina	88	26748
Unincorporated - East La Mirada	1604	30310
Unincorporated - East Lancaster	43	37719
Unincorporated - East Los Angeles	57379	45805
Unincorporated - East Pasadena	425	6638
Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez	6185	40404
Unincorporated - East Whittier	1387	26140
Unincorporated - El Camino Village	2654	30190
Unincorporated - El Monte	0	0
Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake	282	16978
Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone	29899	46208
Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon	1	8333
Unincorporated - Glendora	193	29242
Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights	16094	28777
Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway	4	400000
Unincorporated - Hawthorne	740	29435
Unincorporated - Hi Vista	167	15209
Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons	311	22025
Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose	4327	21852
Unincorporated - La Habra Heights	19	2811
Unincorporated - La Rambla	864	41639
Unincorporated - La Verne*	639	31324
Unincorporated - Ladera Heights	1990	28143
Unincorporated - Lake Hughes	199	29790
Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles	4011	30868
Unincorporated - Lake Manor	451	27450
Unincorporated - Lakewood	26	22807
Unincorporated - Lennox	7483	33196
Unincorporated - Leona Valley	301	17190
Unincorporated - Littlerock	1392	34618
Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills	355	27371
Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom	1306	36593
Unincorporated - Llano	105	11973
Unincorporated - Marina del Rey	2625	27893
Unincorporated - Miracle Mile	0	0
Unincorporated - Monrovia	1092	28137
Unincorporated - Newhall	105	47727
Unincorporated - North Lancaster	505	42154
Unincorporated - North Whittier	3074	36770
Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel	5135	21364
Unincorporated - Padua Hills	36	16744
Unincorporated - Palmdale	264	31354
Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula	122	19646
Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano	423	21626
Unincorporated - Pellissier Village	365	58966
Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon	24	5217
Unincorporated - Pomona	120	6192
Unincorporated - Quartz Hill	3848	29816
Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez	1175	44156
Unincorporated - Roosevelt	276	29646
Unincorporated - Rosewood	502	39036
Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena	524	43923
Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez	1307	38887
Unincorporated - Rowland Heights	12071	23658
Unincorporated - San Clemente Island	0	0
Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon	44	5128
Unincorporated - San Jose Hills	7772	38435
Unincorporated - San Pasqual	89	4373
Unincorporated - Sand Canyon	59	19156
Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island	580	217228
Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*	3808	20450
Unincorporated - Saugus	335	216129
Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country	124	34831
Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley	119	26154
Unincorporated - South El Monte	739	41170
Unincorporated - South San Gabriel	3087	34889
Unincorporated - South Whittier	21101	35630
Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley	246	31498
Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch	5792	27626
Unincorporated - Sun Village	2109	34940
Unincorporated - Sunrise Village	573	44213
Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain	426	25694
Unincorporated - Val Verde	1192	36023
Unincorporated - Valencia	918	29883
Unincorporated - Valinda	9405	40242
Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills	3463	29764
Unincorporated - Walnut Park	7298	45208
Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley	183	12111
Unincorporated - West Carson	7957	36027
Unincorporated - West Chatsworth	5	41667
Unincorporated - West LA	822	86345
Unincorporated - West Puente Valley	4150	42196
Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez	488	35909
Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos	10530	39109
Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills	244	18769
Unincorporated - Westhills	193	23004
Unincorporated - White Fence Farms	910	24708
Unincorporated - Whittier	960	25370
Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows	77	641667
Unincorporated - Willowbrook	16338	46796
Unincorporated - Wiseburn	1835	30446
- Under Investigation	68985
* --Case and death numbers include cases identified among persons detained at correctional facilities located in the city/community
** --These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation.

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