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 07, 2023

As Winter Viruses Increase, New Data Dashboards Allow Residents to Monitor Transmission Trends in Los Angeles County

In Los Angeles County, respiratory virus metrics have increased across the board this past week indicating a steady rise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19 and influenza (flu) activity. The increases are relatively small and indicator numbers remain well below levels seen last year at this time; however, they clearly represent what appears to be the beginning of the winter virus season.

This week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) launched the Respwatch Surveillance Dashboard. This dashboard is updated weekly on Fridays and shares information on flu, COVID-19 and RSV, and allows residents to track information in one convenient location. The dashboard includes information on clinical laboratory surveillance, emergency department visits and wastewater concentrations in comparison to previous seasons.

To be able to compare all three viruses, testing data on this new dashboard uses tests from clinical laboratories that participate in Public Health’s Sentinel Surveillance Network. For this reason, the COVID-19 positivity data on this new dashboard is different from test positivity reported in COVID-only dashboards, which reflects tests conducted across the county.

Using data from Sentinel Surveillance labs for the weeks ending Nov. 18 and Nov. 25, RSV increased from 13.4 percent to 15.1 percent, COVID-19 increased from 7.4 percent to 8.9 percent and flu increased from 6.7 percent to 7.9 percent. For all three viruses, that same week showed increases in the concentration found in wastewater, and for flu and RSV, increases have been steady over the past five weeks. However, wastewater concentrations are still below what they were during the same time last year.

COVID-19 causes more hospitalizations and deaths compared to RSV and flu, can lead to prolonged illness, and the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve. For these reasons, Public Health continues to track additional COVID-19 metrics on their own. As of Nov. 30, the LA County COVID-19 Data dashboard has been updated. This new dashboard combines information previously on three separate website locations into one and presents all key COVID-19 surveillance metrics in one place.

During this winter virus season, vaccination is the best defense against severe illness and hospitalization and is especially important for people who are older or have underlying health conditions. The updated COVID-19 vaccine is available across Los Angeles County and there is no out-of-pocket cost regardless of insurance or immigration status. The COVID-19 vaccine, in addition to the flu vaccine, is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. In Los Angeles County, 860,000 doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. The new vaccine is recommended regardless of previous vaccination status, meaning those with and without previous COVID-19 vaccines should still get the updated 2023-2024 dose.

People who are 60 and older should speak with their provider about an RSV vaccine. RSV vaccination is also recommended for people who are between 32-36 weeks pregnant and immunizations are available for infants under 8 months old.

COVID-19 home tests remain an important tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19 this winter. In addition to free tests distributed locally at libraries, schools and through community organizations, as of Nov. 20, the federal government is allocating each household an additional four free COVID home tests. Information on where to find tests, including a link to order free tests by mail, is available at ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests.

Testing is strongly recommended for people who have been exposed to COVID-19, people who have possible symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough or sore throat, and for those who are attending gatherings or visiting with people who may be more vulnerable to a severe COVID-19 infection, especially people who are over 65 years old.

To avoid spreading another respiratory infection, like flu or RSV, individuals with respiratory symptoms who test negative for COVID-19 should mask indoors while around others. It is most accurate to take a second COVID-19 test 48 hours after the first test if respiratory symptoms persist.

When a person tests negative for COVID-19, yet still has symptoms of a respiratory virus, they may have a flu or RSV infection and should stay home to prevent the spread of illness. For a flu infection, a health care provider can prescribe antivirals, if appropriate, which can reduce the severity and duration of illness.

Adults and children 12 years and older who test or are suspected positive for COVID-19 and who have underlying health conditions or factors that may result in more severe illness from COVID-19 are eligible to take Paxlovid, which must be started within five days of symptom onset. Public Health encourages everyone to speak with their provider about Paxlovid if they test positive.

Paxlovid, the antiviral medication to treat COVID-19, is widely available in Los Angeles County at no cost. Currently there is ample supply of Paxlovid courses, provided through the U.S. government, available at Los Angeles County pharmacies, Public Health Centers and through Public Health telehealth services, provided free to residents through the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473, open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Public Health Call Center can also answer questions about respiratory symptoms, how to find a Public Health Center, where to get vaccinated or how to get tested and help to schedule vaccination appointments, including in-home vaccinations for people who are homebound.

In Los Angeles County, based on data through Nov. 25, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hospital Admission Level is Low at 4.8 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

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

12/06/2023

11/29/2023

11/22/2023

11/15/2023

Daily average cases

380

249

275

250

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

28%

24%

13%

12%

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

3.7%

3.3%

3.6%

3.0%

Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations

457

404

362

304

Daily average deaths

1.9

1.6

2.7

3.4

Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19

2.8%

1.6%

1.3%

0.9%

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/COVIDdataincluding:

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 12/04/2023

Total Cases

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

3,828,739

Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

37,007

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

- 0 to 4

116,410

- 5 to 11

285,133

- 12 to 17

280,052

- 18 to 29

769,722

- 30 to 49

1,156,457

- 50 to 64

632,110

- 65 to 79

279,771

- over 80

101,466

- Under Investigation

2,625

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

- Female

1,874,204

- Male

1,658,003

- Other

1,903

- Under Investigation

89,636

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

6,886

- Asian

271,592

- Black

193,213

- Hispanic/Latino

1,539,544

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

18,106

- White

507,395

- Other

418,966

- Under Investigation

668,044

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

- Hospitalized (Ever)

189,595

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

- American Indian/Alaska Native

83

- Asian

4,615

- Black

3,293

- Hispanic/Latino

17,022

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

114

- White

9,395

- Other

477

- Under Investigation

108

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6506

31155

City of Alhambra

26249

30267

City of Arcadia

14139

24481

City of Artesia

6210

36975

City of Avalon

298

7702

City of Azusa

17843

35657

City of Baldwin Park

30283

39447

City of Bell

17241

47454

City of Bell Gardens

17408

40417

City of Bellflower

31467

40480

City of Beverly Hills

11912

34508

City of Bradbury

71

6642

City of Burbank

33737

31477

City of Calabasas

6076

24980

City of Carson

35953

38311

City of Cerritos

13836

27635

City of Claremont

10664

29229

City of Commerce*

5959

45596

City of Compton

41135

41175

City of Covina

20776

42372

City of Cudahy

12361

50770

City of Culver City

12378

31050

City of Diamond Bar

14050

24428

City of Downey

47656

41707

City of Duarte

7681

34888

City of El Monte

43634

37208

City of El Segundo

4207

25063

City of Gardena

22577

36824

City of Glendale

61803

29930

City of Glendora

15548

29467

City of Hawaiian Gardens

5121

34894

City of Hawthorne

30416

34257

City of Hermosa Beach

4876

24789

City of Hidden Hills

394

20847

City of Huntington Park

26680

44852

City of Industry

1058

242105

City of Inglewood

39780

35023

City of Irwindale

904

61960

City of La Canada Flintridge

4719

22805

City of La Habra Heights

215

3941

City of La Mirada

14634

29505

City of La Puente

16262

39959

City of La Verne

9466

28442

City of Lakewood

27823

34622

City of Lancaster*

65741

40689

City of Lawndale

10864

32320

City of Lomita

6304

30412

City of Lynwood*

31904

44282

City of Malibu

2971

22923

City of Manhattan Beach

7686

21351

City of Maywood

13050

46526

City of Monrovia

12169

31363

City of Montebello

25983

40362

City of Monterey Park

18021

28944

City of Norwalk

43933

40822

City of Palmdale

68258

42938

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2363

17475

City of Paramount

23107

41246

City of Pico Rivera

28622

44524

City of Pomona

66928

42922

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

8146

19056

City of Redondo Beach

16190

23567

City of Rolling Hills

308

15876

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1623

20005

City of Rosemead

15613

28208

City of San Dimas*

11359

32909

City of San Fernando

13017

52889

City of San Gabriel

11942

29160

City of San Marino

2515

18943

City of Santa Clarita

75864

34417

City of Santa Fe Springs

8023

43689

City of Santa Monica

27518

29767

City of Sierra Madre

2519

22923

City of Signal Hill

4202

35619

City of South El Monte

8577

41068

City of South Gate

47890

48790

City of South Pasadena

6524

25041

City of Temple City

11026

30246

City of Torrance

35758

23956

City of Vernon

361

172727

City of Walnut

7767

25439

City of West Covina

40496

37415

City of West Hollywood

11595

31379

City of Westlake Village

459

5490

City of Whittier

31917

36505

Los Angeles

1563366

38653

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3270

39868

Los Angeles - Alsace

4641

37292

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

0

0

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

857

34253

Los Angeles - Arleta

17225

50116

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

5201

35463

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

10578

33986

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2537

30098

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3428

27369

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

4332

32885

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

41118

47325

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8696

28092

Los Angeles - Brookside

158

27194

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2350

33001

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

25942

39734

Los Angeles - Carthay

4548

31665

Los Angeles - Central

17228

44183

Los Angeles - Century City

3897

30464

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

16638

49274

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

13344

36006

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2636

28743

Los Angeles - Chinatown

3030

37776

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5442

37394

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

5013

33083

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5515

39880

Los Angeles - Crestview

4085

35934

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8734

29176

Los Angeles - Downtown*

16514

60036

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

14163

35775

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9782

33400

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4590

32197

Los Angeles - El Sereno

17263

41291

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1878

32878

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3642

35808

Los Angeles - Encino

15678

34707

Los Angeles - Exposition

1321

39717

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

18545

41287

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1299

36083

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3877

44456

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

23218

48937

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

11249

35594

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

4308

40022

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

22196

38143

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

10284

47821

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4853

28482

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9697

33357

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

16119

36970

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

662

27480

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6271

34771

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

18395

48491

Los Angeles - Highland Park

17611

36393

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5609

40440

Los Angeles - Hollywood

22214

32546

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7875

26755

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

12290

43061

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3226

39960

Los Angeles - Koreatown

16541

31999

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1634

35841

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

16692

39549

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

6313

48070

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5938

38976

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heig





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