news release DPH

For Immediate Release:

June 8, 2023

Common-Sense Protective Measures Encouraged During Summertime Travel

Simple precautions can aid in preventing vacation disruptions

As many Los Angeles County residents make summer travel plans, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) encourages people to take common-sense measures while traveling to avoid contracting and spreading COVID-19, especially at this time of year, when case rates and hospitalizations typically have risen.

For the past three years, Los Angeles County has experienced a significant increase in transmission between June and August, peak summer months when increased travel, celebrations and gatherings have contributed to summer surges. Protective measures, such as handwashing, testing, and staying home when sick, are essential to dampening the spread of COVID-19.

Although data shows that COVID-19 transmission remains low in Los Angeles County, across the course of the pandemic, COVID hospitalizations, an indicator of COVID-19's impact on the community, have increased during summer months, coinciding with school breaks and summer vacations.

During the first year of the pandemic, COVID-19 hospitalizations rose 40 percent between June 1, 2020, and August 1, 2020. The next year, despite hospitalizations reaching a pandemic-low in June of 2021 at an average of 218 hospitalizations per day, Los Angeles County saw a summer surge during which hospitalizations increased by nearly 300 percent between June 1 and August 1. In 2022 the hospitalization increase was over 150 percent during the same summer months.

As of June 4, 2023, the 7-day average of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County was 226, one of the lowest hospitalization averages since the pandemic began.

Any COVID-19 infection brings risk, including the risk of long COVID, and the chance that the virus may be spread to someone who is more at-risk for severe illness. At the very least, summer gatherings and travel plans can be disrupted. To reduce risks during travel, Public Health urges all residents to take simple precautions, including staying home when sick, masking while using public transportation, and testing if a person is experiencing respiratory symptoms or has been exposed to COVID-19. For added protection, it is also recommended that people traveling together are up to date on COVID vaccines before departure.

In California, insurance plans, including Medicare and Medi-Cal, are required to cover the cost of testing for COVID-19 through Nov. 11, 2023. Exact coverage may vary depending on an individual's insurance plan. Residents without insurance may receive free at-home test kits or PCR tests for COVID-19 at public libraries, public health clinics, vaccination sites and community health centers or purchase tests from a pharmacy or other local retailer. Having tests on hand while traveling can help detect a COVID-19 infection as soon as possible.

COVID-19 treatments, taken within five days of symptom onset, can help reduce the chance of severe illness from COVID. Anyone traveling for an extended period of time should make a plan with their provider or insurance about how to access treatment in case of infection. For questions about treatment, testing, steps to prevent COVID-19 while traveling, or anything related to COVID-19, the Public Health Call Line remains available every day, from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., by calling 1-833-540-0473.

In addition to increased COVID-19 exposure due to travel and summertime events, an increase in cases also can be caused by mutations to the virus. Currently in Los Angeles County, the most recent sequencing data shows XBB.1.5 remains the dominant strain, accounting for 66 percent of sequenced specimens for the two-week period ending May 13, 2023, a decrease from 74 percent during the previous reporting period. The second most dominant strains were XBB.1.9.1 and XBB.1.9.2, accounting for 9 percent and 7 percent of sequenced specimens, respectively, an increase from the prior two-week period. Modeling data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as of May 27 in California and surrounding states, XBB.1.5 remains the dominant strain accounting for 53 percent of cases while XBB.1.16 makes up 14 percent and XBB.1.9.1 accounts for about 13 percent of cases. These shifts are small, and officials do not note a cause for concern at this time.

?I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to those who have lost a loved one to COVID-19. May you find peace and comfort during this difficult time,? said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. ?Like many people, I am looking forward to the summer months and plans with family and friends. More than anything I hope that our numbers remain low and that we start to see a new pattern of COVID-19, with more predictability and fewer surges. As the virus and the circumstances of the pandemic continue to evolve, more will be known about the long-term outlook of COVID-19. For now, all residents are encouraged to use the knowledge we have gained over the past 3+ years, especially when participating in higher risk activities, such as travel. While these activities are lower risk than in past summers, they are not no-risk, especially for people who are older or immunocompromised. Incorporating simple measures, such as handwashing and testing, can help keep each other safe and make for an enjoyable summer.?

For residents who have difficulties leaving their home, Public Health offers free in-home COVID-19 vaccinations. Appointments may be made at ph.lacounty.gov/vaxathome, or ph.lacounty.gov/vacunacionencasa (en espa?ol). Homebound services and other COVID-19 resources, including vaccines, testing and treatment, are free and readily available by calling the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473 seven days a week between 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The CDC has replaced COVID-19 Community Levels with Hospital Admission Levels, which can help individuals and communities decide which prevention actions they can take based on the most recent information. Los Angeles County is in the Low Hospital Admission Level with 3.0 weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, reported June 1, 2023.

The 7-day average number of COVID hospitalizations is 226 this week. Reported weekly deaths increased to 46 deaths reported this week.? As of Tuesday, June 6, there have been a total of 36,424 COVID deaths in Los Angeles County.

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

6/7/2023

5/31/2023

5/24/2023

5/17/2023

Weekly cases reported1,2

1,902

1,801

2,157

2,323

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

10%

11%

9%

10%

7-day average of the percent of emergency department (ED) encounters classified as coronavirus-related3,4

2.5%

2.3%

2.7%

3.0%

7-day average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations3,4

226*

254*

190*

225*

Weekly deaths reported2

46

40

35

20

1) Case counts are an underrepresentation of the true number of infections, largely due to home tests which are not reported to DPH. Despite this, the trend in reported case counts from week to week is still an indicator of overall trends in transmission.

2) Weekly case and death counts represent the number of cases and deaths reported for the week ending each Tuesday. The date a case/death is reported by DPH is not the same as the date of testing or death.

3) Time periods covered by each metric: wastewater = week ending each Saturday, with a one-week lag; ED data = week ending each Sunday; hospitalizations = week ending each Sunday.

4) Data for past weeks is subject to change in future reports.

*Due to a reporting transition at the state level and subsequent underreporting from hospitals, this value is an undercount. Efforts are actively underway to address the underreporting.

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:

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

Cases through 12:00pm 6/5/2023

? ?

?

Total Cases

NEW

Laboratory Confirmed Cases

3,749,879

1902

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

3,545,194

1762

-- Long Beach

164,362

102

-- Pasadena

40,323

38

Deaths

36,424

46

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

34,562

41

-- Long Beach

1,415

5

-- Pasadena

447

0

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

?

?

- 0 to 4

112,072

?

- 5 to 11

283,194

?

- 12 to 17

277,917

?

- 18 to 29

759,463

?

- 30 to 49

1,136,060

?

- 50 to 64

615,617

?

- 65 to 79

265,065

?

-? over 80

93,255

?

-? Under Investigation

2,551

?

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

?

?

-? Female

1,829,700

?

-? Male

1,624,647

?

-? Other

1,796

?

-? Under Investigation

89,051

?

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

6,720

?

-? Asian

264,197

?

-? Black

186,291

?

-? Hispanic/Latino

1,514,859

?

-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

17,741

?

-? White

492,381

?

-? Other

407,367

?

-? Under Investigation

655,638

?

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

?

?

-? Hospitalized (Ever)

178,085

?

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

80

?

-? Asian

4,504

?

-? Black

3,247

?

-? Hispanic/Latino

16,892

?

-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

119

?

-? White

9,216

?

-? Other

414

?

-? Under Investigation

90

?

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6348

30398

City of Alhambra

25526

29434

City of Arcadia

13714

23746

City of Artesia

6006

35761

City of Avalon

288

7444

City of Azusa

17527

35026

City of Baldwin Park

29720

38714

City of Bell

17042

46906

City of Bell Gardens

17148

39813

City of Bellflower

30838

39671

City of Beverly Hills

11601

33607

City of Bradbury

71

6642

City of Burbank

32888

30685

City of Calabasas

5848

24043

City of Carson

34999

37294

City of Cerritos

13379

26722

City of Claremont

10434

28599

City of Commerce*

5877

44969

City of Compton

40308

40347

City of Covina

20308

41418

City of Cudahy

12231

50236

City of Culver City

11969

30024

City of Diamond Bar

13721

23856

City of Downey

46872

41021

City of Duarte

7518

34148

City of El Monte

42797

36495

City of El Segundo

4090

24366

City of Gardena

21908

35733

City of Glendale

60413

29257

City of Glendora

15041

28506

City of Hawaiian Gardens

5012

34151

City of Hawthorne

29668

33415

City of Hermosa Beach

4740

24098

City of Hidden Hills

383

20265

City of Huntington Park

26368

44328

City of Industry

1015

232265

City of Inglewood

38798

34159

City of Irwindale

887

60795

City of La Canada Flintridge

4552

21998

City of La Habra Heights

214

3923

City of La Mirada

14254

28738

City of La Puente

15998

39310

City of La Verne

9263

27832

City of Lakewood

27114

33740

City of Lancaster*

64269

39778

City of Lawndale

10605

31549

City of Lomita

6118

29514

City of Lynwood*

31278

43413

City of Malibu

2895

22336

City of Manhattan Beach

7458

20717

City of Maywood

12851

45816

City of Monrovia

11879

30616

City of Montebello

25528

39655

City of Monterey Park

17543

28176

City of Norwalk

43094

40042

City of Palmdale

66948

42114

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2279

16854

City of Paramount

22774

40651

City of Pico Rivera

28201

43869

City of Pomona

65758

42171

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

7795

18235

City of Redondo Beach

15630

22752

City of Rolling Hills

299

15412

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1541

18994

City of Rosemead

15258

27566

City of San Dimas*

11130

32246

City of San Fernando

12793

51979

City of San Gabriel

11488

28051

City of San Marino

2410

18152

City of Santa Clarita

73647

33412

City of Santa Fe Springs

7915

43101

City of Santa Monica

26530

28698

City of Sierra Madre

2420

22022

City of Signal Hill

4114

34873

City of South El Monte

8446

40441

City of South Gate

47234

48122

City of South Pasadena

6348

24366

City of Temple City

10778

29565

City of Torrance

34433

23068

City of Vernon

357

170813

City of Walnut

7593

24869

City of West Covina

39643

36627

City of West Hollywood

11324

30646

City of Westlake Village

453

5419

City of Whittier

31437

35956

Los Angeles

1531147

37857

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3215

39198

Los Angeles - Alsace

4528

36384

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

0

0

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

849

33933

Los Angeles - Arleta

16942

49293

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

5096

34747

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

10265

32980

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2458

29161

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3349

26739

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

4225

32073

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

40548

46669

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8444

27278

Los Angeles - Brookside

157

27022

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2305

32369

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

25383

38878

Los Angeles - Carthay

4430

30843

Los Angeles - Central

17068

43773

Los Angeles - Century City

3770

29472

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

16328

48356

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

12995

35064

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2565

27969

Los Angeles - Chinatown

2947

36741

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5337

36673

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

4923

32489

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5348

38672

Los Angeles - Crestview

3976

34975

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8459

28257

Los Angeles - Downtown*

16251

59080

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

13866

35025

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9572

32683

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4517

31685

Los Angeles - El Sereno

16970

40590

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1847

32335

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3581

35208

Los Angeles - Encino

15305

33882

Los Angeles - Exposition

1284

38605

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

18308

40760

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1271

35306

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3807

43653

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

22915

48298

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

11038

34926

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

4181

38842

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

21614

37143

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

10097

46952

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4763

27954

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9448

32501

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

15748

36119

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

650

26982

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6168

34200

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

18075

47647

Los Angeles - Highland Park

17286

35722

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5522

39813

Los Angeles - Hollywood

21758

31878

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7713

26204

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

11993

42020

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3155

39081

Los Angeles - Koreatown

16262

31459

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1600

35095

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

16344

38724

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

6158

46890

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5820

38202

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

12857

39442

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

3062

38156

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8694

30674

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1486

47431

Los Angeles - Longwood

1795

41705

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

6442

29813

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

3267

38273

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

905

28969

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

11004

25909

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

965

22133

Los Angeles - Melrose

26359

33926

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4507

29987

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

4954

27545

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

11962

49585

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

8271

34256

Los Angeles - North Hills

25395

41242

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

59286

39153

Los Angeles - Northridge

25749

36891

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

5065

23789

Los Angeles - Pacoima

38961

50613

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

927

24103

Los Angeles - Palms

12131

27648

Los Angeles - Panorama City

33645

44711

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

3267

24057

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

16429

39264

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

608

19024

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3455

31561

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

10595

29771

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2259

34436

Los Angeles - Regent Square

877

31547

Los Angeles - Reseda

32261

42107

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1810

39042

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1185

28027

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

26309

33713

Los Angeles - Shadow Hills

1327

29874

Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks

27835

31901

Los Angeles - Silverlake

13337

30254

Los Angeles - South Carthay

3285

31005

Los Angeles - South Park

16925

44585

Los Angeles - St Elmo Village

1876

40925

Los Angeles - Studio City

7095

31618

Los Angeles - Sun Valley

23265

44329

Los Angeles - Sunland

6955

34080

Los Angeles - Sycamore Square

211

32612

Los Angeles - Sylmar*

42341

51386

Los Angeles - Tarzana

10603

34341

Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry

13563

34352

Los Angeles - Thai Town

2817

28719

Los Angeles - Toluca Lake

2574

29573

Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace

530

40582

Los Angeles - Toluca Woods

475

25565

Los Angeles - Tujunga

9025

32452

Los Angeles - University Hills

935

27267

Los Angeles - University Park

11663

42479

Los Angeles - Valley Glen

11264

37527

Los Angeles - Valley Village

8596

34773

Los Angeles - Van Nuys*

37776

40535

Los Angeles - Venice

9195

27136

Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls

7530

43779

Los Angeles - Vermont Square

3770

49236

Los Angeles - Vermont Vista

18774

45583

Los Angeles - Vernon Central

24778

47652

Los Angeles - Victoria Park

2831

33706

Los Angeles - View Heights

1118

30265

Los Angeles - Watts

19695

46152

Los Angeles - Wellington Square

1852

37681

Los Angeles - West Adams

10992

39783

Los Angeles - West Hills

12997

32056

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles

11676

31023

Los Angeles - West Vernon

24843

46311

Los Angeles - Westchester

13977

27086

Los Angeles - Westlake

20963

35318

Los Angeles - Westwood

16783

31017

Los Angeles - Wholesale District*

22407

62019

Los Angeles - Wilmington

23731

42011

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center

17205

34293

Los Angeles - Winnetka

20043

38704

Los Angeles - Woodland Hills

20723

30450

Unincorporated - Acton

2017

25304

Unincorporated - Agua Dulce

996

23954

Unincorporated - Altadena

11767

26976

Unincorporated - Anaverde

422

27984

Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest

92

7390

Unincorporated - Arcadia

2259

28305

Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont

17622

41520

Unincorporated - Athens Village

2830

57790

Unincorporated - Avocado Heights

2744

40502

Unincorporated - Azusa

6376

40043

Unincorporated - Bassett

6243

42134

Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon

207

19292

Unincorporated - Bradbury

136

125926

Unincorporated - Canyon Country

3774

48835

Unincorporated - Castaic*

9634

35431

Unincorporated - Cerritos

192

32709

Unincorporated - Charter Oak

10

50000

Unincorporated - Claremont

160

22792

Unincorporated - Covina

6302

37470

Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)

5082

38664

Unincorporated - Del Aire

1228

27954

Unincorporated - Del Rey

148

46541

Unincorporated - Del Sur

705

29193

Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands

958

38428

Unincorporated - Duarte

2009

45370

Unincorporated - East Covina

91

27660

Unincorporated - East La Mirada

1651

31198

Unincorporated - East Lancaster

43

37719

Unincorporated - East Los Angeles

58826

46960

Unincorporated - East Pasadena

433

6762

Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez

6380

41678

Unincorporated - East Whittier

1443

27196

Unincorporated - El Camino Village

2774

31555

Unincorporated - El Monte

0

0

Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake

288

17339

Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone

30491

47123

Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon

2

16667

Unincorporated - Glendora

199

30152

Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights

16646

29764

Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway

4

400000

Unincorporated - Hawthorne

762

30310

Unincorporated - Hi Vista

173

15756

Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons

323

22875

Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose

4495

22701

Unincorporated - La Habra Heights

21

3107

Unincorporated - La Rambla

916

44145

Unincorporated - La Verne*

667

32696

Unincorporated - Ladera Heights

2093

29600

Unincorporated - Lake Hughes

203

30389

Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles

4085

31438

Unincorporated - Lake Manor

465

28302

Unincorporated - Lakewood

28

24561

Unincorporated - Lennox

7686

34096

Unincorporated - Leona Valley

315

17990

Unincorporated - Littlerock

1419

35290

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills

363

27988

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom

1327

37181

Unincorporated - Llano

108

12315

Unincorporated - Marina del Rey

2736

29072

Unincorporated - Miracle Mile

0

0

Unincorporated - Monrovia

1133

29194

Unincorporated - Newhall

105

47727

Unincorporated - North Lancaster

514

42905

Unincorporated - North Whittier

3167

37883

Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel

5347

22246

Unincorporated - Padua Hills

38

17674

Unincorporated - Palmdale

268

31829

Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula

126

20290

Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano

435

22239

Unincorporated - Pellissier Village

377

60905

Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon

24

5217

Unincorporated - Pomona

126

6502

Unincorporated - Quartz Hill

3924

30404

Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez

1218

45772

Unincorporated - Roosevelt

281

30183

Unincorporated - Rosewood

517

40202

Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena

550

46102

Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez

1352

40226

Unincorporated - Rowland Heights

12530

24558

Unincorporated - San Clemente Island

0

0

Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

44

5128

Unincorporated - San Jose Hills

7989

39508

Unincorporated - San Pasqual

90

4423

Unincorporated - Sand Canyon

63

20455

Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island

597

223596

Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*

3974

21341

Unincorporated - Saugus

346

223226

Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country

135

37921

Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley

122

26813

Unincorporated - South El Monte

764

42563

Unincorporated - South San Gabriel

3237

36585

Unincorporated - South Whittier

21770

36760

Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley

252

32266

Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch

5998

28608

Unincorporated - Sun Village

2148

35586

Unincorporated - Sunrise Village

594

45833

Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain

438

26417

Unincorporated - Val Verde

1225

37020

Unincorporated - Valencia

936

30469

Unincorporated - Valinda

9687

41449

Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills

3647

31345

Unincorporated - Walnut Park

7476

46311

Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley

188

12442

Unincorporated - West Carson

8336

37743

Unincorporated - West Chatsworth

5

41667

Unincorporated - West LA

897

94223

Unincorporated - West Puente Valley

4270

43416

Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez

501

36865

Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos

10850

40297

Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills

253

19462

Unincorporated - Westhills

200

23838

Unincorporated - White Fence Farms

935

25387

Unincorporated - Whittier

1005

26559

Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows

76

633333

Unincorporated - Willowbrook

16772

48039

Unincorporated - Wiseburn

1911

31707

?- Under Investigation

71175

?

*? --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

?

?


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