news release DPH

For Immediate Release:

August 24, 2023

Amid Rising COVID-19 Transmission, Common-Sense Safety Practices Urged for Skilled Nursing Facilities, Schools

After a relatively calm summer, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is reporting a rise in measures of COVID-19 transmission for the fifth consecutive week. To help mitigate the spread, Public Health is working with institutions and partners to provide information about and access to vaccinations, tests, and therapeutics.? Public Health continues to provide support and resources to skilled nursing facilities, where people are at higher risk for severe illness, and schools, where students and staff are indoors, in close contact with each other, for long periods of time.

The increase in COVID-19 circulation is likely the combined result of multiple factors, including summer travel, return to school, and the emergence of new COVID-19 variant strains. Compared to other points during the pandemic, hospitalizations and deaths remain relatively low. However, people more vulnerable to severe illness and death, including people who are immunocompromised, older or in skilled nursing facilities, and the people they spend time with, should consider precautions to protect against COVID infection. These protections include wearing a well-fitting high filtration mask when in poorly ventilated and/or crowded indoor spaces and on public transit, testing when symptomatic and/or after a known COVID-19 exposure, remaining home when sick, and seeking therapeutics if infected.

In Los Angeles County this week, an average of 512 daily cases was reported, a nearly 35 percent increase from the week before. Reported cases do not include home tests, so the actual number of COVID infections in the community is much higher.

Wastewater concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, provide a more complete picture of virus levels in the community. This week, wastewater concentrations are at 28 percent of the 2022-23 winter peak and have been steadily increasing since July 12, when they were at 8 percent of the peak.

Based on the most recent COVID-19 variant sequencing in Los Angeles County as of July 22, XBB.1.5 and EG.5 now account for nearly equal proportions of COVID-19 cases, combined making up 31 percent of the total sequenced cases. XBB.2.3 accounts for the next highest proportion of sequenced cases followed by XBB.1.16.1.

Ninety-eight percent of currently circulating strains in Los Angeles County are descendants of Omicron XBB, including EG.5, which is what the fall COVID-19 vaccine, likely to be released next month, will target. Los Angeles County has not detected BA.2.86 in recently sampled sequences.? BA.2.86 is being closely monitored because it has many mutations that may affect how our body responds to an infection. ??

Currently, Los Angeles County is reporting a daily average of 422 hospitalizations, a 30 percent increase from the week prior and there has also been a consistent, small increase in the proportion of emergency department visits attributed to COVID-19 over the past month. While hospitalizations are increasing, the current levels are still far lower than what was seen in 2022 during the summer peak, when there was an average of 1,287 COVID patients hospitalized each day.

When COVID-19 transmission increases, people residing in skilled nursing facilities are especially vulnerable. This week, the number of new outbreaks opened in skilled nursing facilities rose to 39, up from 20 the week prior and 13 four weeks ago. And while resulting hospitalizations and deaths among skilled nursing facility residents are lower than at other points during the pandemic, nonetheless, increased transmission of COVID-19 at nursing homes carries heightened risk for frail elderly.

As a result of the increased outbreaks, Public Health is working closely with local skilled nursing facilities to encourage adequate cleaning, infection control, and ventilation in the facility, as well as to communicate the importance of staff and visitors staying home when sick.

Public Health currently strongly recommends masking for staff in skilled nursing facilities and requires it during outbreaks. All residents should have access to clean?well-fitting masks with good filtration and these should be worn by anyone suspected positive when not in their rooms. It is also strongly recommended that all residents, staff, and visitors remain up to date with COVID vaccines. Visitors should test before going into a skilled nursing facility and should strongly consider wearing a mask while inside.

Public Health provides support at all skilled nursing facilities during outbreaks and a Paxlovid prescription is encouraged, where appropriate, for residents who test positive.

With increased COVID-19 transmission in the community, schools are another place where outbreaks are possible due to large groups of people being indoors together for extended periods of time. And while many children may not experience severe illness associated with a COVID-19 infection, other family members and school staff may be at higher risk.?

Parents and guardians are encouraged to keep children home if they are sick, including when they have a fever, bad cough, extreme fatigue, or a sore throat. Those with respiratory symptoms or a known exposure should test for COVID-19; many school districts have already received test kits for free distribution to students and their families. ?If a child tests positive for COVID-19, it is important to report that to the school as soon as possible so that others can be informed of the exposure. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 needs to isolate at home for a minimum of 5 days.?

Public Health is committed to working with schools to provide support during outbreaks in addition to distributing free antigen tests and tool kits with resources and information about reducing transmission.

Those infected with COVID-19 should talk to their health care provider about treatment options, such as Paxlovid, as soon as possible. Treatment must begin within five days of the onset of symptoms. To access free telehealth services for treatment, contact the Public Health Call Center, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., at 1-833-540-0473.

Los Angeles County remains in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?s Low Hospital Admission Level with 5.2 weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, reported on Aug. 21 for the seven-day period ending Aug. 12, an increase from 4.1 hospital admissions last week.

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

8/23/2023

8/16/2023

8/9/2023

8/2/2023

Daily average cases?

512

384

333

264

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

28%

22%

19%

12%

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

4.4%

3.9%

3.5%

3.2%

Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations

422

330

295

245

Daily average deaths

1.7

1.0

1.7

0.7

Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19

1.1%

0.9%

1.3%

0.8%

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. Hospitalization counts do not include Prospect Hospitals, which on average make up 2% of hospitalizations in LA County.

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 and deaths do not include Long Beach and Pasadena.

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:

  • Los Angeles County Department of Public Health:

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

?

?

Cases through 12:00pm 8/21/2023

? ?

?

Total Cases

?

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

3,777,831

?

Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

36,618

?

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

?

?

- 0 to 4

113,593

?

- 5 to 11

283,829

?

- 12 to 17

278,529

?

- 18 to 29

763,174

?

- 30 to 49

1,143,624

?

- 50 to 64

621,546

?

- 65 to 79

270,017

?

-? over 80

95,954

?

-? Under Investigation

2,572

?

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

?

?

-? Female

1,845,342

?

-? Male

1,636,395

?

-? Other

1,860

?

-? Under Investigation

89,241

?

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

6,781

?

-? Asian

266,863

?

-? Black

188,843

?

-? Hispanic/Latino

1,523,637

?

-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

17,870

?

-? White

497,616

?

-? Other

411,441

?

-? Under Investigation

659,787

?

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

?

?

-? Hospitalized (Ever)

182,917

?

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

79

?

-? Asian

4,542

?

-? Black

3,262

?

-? Hispanic/Latino

16,939

?

-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

116

?

-? White

9,270

?

-? Other

429

?

-? Under Investigation

92

?

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6417

30728

City of Alhambra

25770

29715

City of Arcadia

13882

24036

City of Artesia

6065

36112

City of Avalon

292

7547

City of Azusa

17648

35268

City of Baldwin Park

29902

38951

City of Bell

17108

47088

City of Bell Gardens

17294

40152

City of Bellflower

31071

39970

City of Beverly Hills

11696

33882

City of Bradbury

71

6642

City of Burbank

33189

30966

City of Calabasas

5920

24339

City of Carson

35344

37662

City of Cerritos

13556

27076

City of Claremont

10500

28780

City of Commerce*

5906

45191

City of Compton

40636

40675

City of Covina

20466

41740

City of Cudahy

12273

50409

City of Culver City

12133

30435

City of Diamond Bar

13831

24048

City of Downey

47204

41312

City of Duarte

7570

34384

City of El Monte

43081

36737

City of El Segundo

4147

24705

City of Gardena

22131

36097

City of Glendale

60890

29488

City of Glendora

15229

28862

City of Hawaiian Gardens

5041

34349

City of Hawthorne

29944

33726

City of Hermosa Beach

4795

24377

City of Hidden Hills

390

20635

City of Huntington Park

26501

44551

City of Industry

1021

233638

City of Inglewood

39115

34438

City of Irwindale

894

61275

City of La Canada Flintridge

4616

22307

City of La Habra Heights

215

3941

City of La Mirada

14399

29031

City of La Puente

16091

39539

City of La Verne

9335

28048

City of Lakewood

27384

34076

City of Lancaster*

64772

40089

City of Lawndale

10703

31841

City of Lomita

6180

29813

City of Lynwood*

31581

43834

City of Malibu

2919

22521

City of Manhattan Beach

7538

20939

City of Maywood

12910

46027

City of Monrovia

11986

30892

City of Montebello

25701

39924

City of Monterey Park

17694

28419

City of Norwalk

43439

40363

City of Palmdale

67392

42393

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2310

17083

City of Paramount

22929

40928

City of Pico Rivera

28330

44070

City of Pomona

66133

42412

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

7930

18551

City of Redondo Beach

15828

23040

City of Rolling Hills

303

15619

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1565

19290

City of Rosemead

15398

27819

City of San Dimas*

11212

32483

City of San Fernando

12865

52271

City of San Gabriel

11578

28271

City of San Marino

2460

18528

City of Santa Clarita

74396

33751

City of Santa Fe Springs

7963

43362

City of Santa Monica

26900

29098

City of Sierra Madre

2461

22395

City of Signal Hill

4135

35051

City of South El Monte

8491

40656

City of South Gate

47466

48358

City of South Pasadena

6411

24608

City of Temple City

10857

29782

City of Torrance

34901

23381

City of Vernon

358

171292

City of Walnut

7652

25062

City of West Covina

39933

36895

City of West Hollywood

11408

30873

City of Westlake Village

456

5455

City of Whittier

31582

36122

Los Angeles

1542307

38132

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3234

39429

Los Angeles - Alsace

4574

36754

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

0

0

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

851

34013

Los Angeles - Arleta

17028

49543

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

5136

35020

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

10364

33298

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2491

29553

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3383

27010

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

4263

32362

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

40734

46883

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8540

27588

Los Angeles - Brookside

158

27194

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2320

32580

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

25590

39195

Los Angeles - Carthay

4463

31073

Los Angeles - Central

17124

43917

Los Angeles - Century City

3809

29776

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

16443

48697

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

13113

35382

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2591

28252

Los Angeles - Chinatown

2971

37040

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5384

36996

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

4943

32621

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5410

39121

Los Angeles - Crestview

4011

35283

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8558

28588

Los Angeles - Downtown*

16340

59403

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

13971

35290

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9640

32916

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4546

31888

Los Angeles - El Sereno

17067

40822

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1857

32511

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3602

35414

Los Angeles - Encino

15437

34174

Los Angeles - Exposition

1293

38876

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

18393

40949

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1285

35694

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3826

43871

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

23023

48526

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

11110

35154

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

4227

39270

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

21790

37446

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

10179

47333

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4795

28141

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9523

32759

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

15876

36413

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

656

27231

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6204

34400

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

18179

47921

Los Angeles - Highland Park

17396

35949

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5555

40050

Los Angeles - Hollywood

21907

32096

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7773

26408

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

12079

42322

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3184

39440

Los Angeles - Koreatown

16350

31629

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1610

35315

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

16474

39032

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

6187

47110

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5862

38477

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

12916

39623

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

3074

38305

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8740

30837

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1525

48675

Los Angeles - Longwood

1814

42147

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

6490

30035

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

3287

38507

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

913

29225

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

11136

26220

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

975

22362

Los Angeles - Melrose

26563

34188

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4555

30306

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

4995

27773

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

12046

49934

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

8309

34413

Los Angeles - North Hills

25555

41502

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

59668

39405

Los Angeles - Northridge

25945

37172

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

5112

24010

Los Angeles - Pacoima

39140

50845

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

934

24285

Los Angeles - Palms

12262

27946

Los Angeles - Panorama City

33847

44979

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

3297

24278

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

16490

39410

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

613

19180

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3490

31881

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

10712

30100

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2282

34787

Los Angeles - Regent Square

886

31871

Los Angeles - Reseda

32518

42442

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1822

39301

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1195

28264

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

26593

34077

Los Angeles - Shadow Hills

1337

30099

Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks

28118

32225

Los Angeles - Silverlake

13443

30495

Los Angeles - South Carthay

3319

31326

Los Angeles - South Park

16997

44775

Los Angeles - St Elmo Village

1892

41274

Los Angeles - Studio City

7154

31881

Los Angeles - Sun Valley

23458

44696

Los Angeles - Sunland

6996

34281

Los Angeles - Sycamore Square

212

32767

Los Angeles - Sylmar*

42574

51669

Los Angeles - Tarzana

10690

34622

Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry

13636

34537

Los Angeles - Thai Town

2832

28871

Los Angeles - Toluca Lake

2599

29860

Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace

533

40812

Los Angeles - Toluca Woods

480

25834

Los Angeles - Tujunga

9096

32708

Los Angeles - University Hills

942

27472

Los Angeles - University Park

11710

42650

Los Angeles - Valley Glen

11340

37780

Los Angeles - Valley Village

8668

35065

Los Angeles - Van Nuys*

38057

40836

Los Angeles - Venice

9277

27378

Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls

7584

44093

Los Angeles - Vermont Square

3788

49471

Los Angeles - Vermont Vista

18919

45936

Los Angeles - Vernon Central

24870

47829

Los Angeles - Victoria Park

2848

33909

Los Angeles - View Heights

1129

30563

Los Angeles - Watts

19864

46548

Los Angeles - Wellington Square

1867

37986

Los Angeles - West Adams

11062

40036

Los Angeles - West Hills

13153

32440

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles

11841

31462

Los Angeles - West Vernon

24973

46553

Los Angeles - Westchester

14109

27341

Los Angeles - Westlake

21091

35534

Los Angeles - Westwood

16947

31320

Los Angeles - Wholesale District*

22554

62426

Los Angeles - Wilmington

23904

42318

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center

17295

34473

Los Angeles - Winnetka

20215

39036

Los Angeles - Woodland Hills

20965

30806

Unincorporated - Acton

2041

25605

Unincorporated - Agua Dulce

1004

24146

Unincorporated - Altadena

11915

27315

Unincorporated - Anaverde

426

28249

Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest

92

7390

Unincorporated - Arcadia

2298

28793

Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont

2842

58036

Unincorporated - Athens Village

17759

41843

Unincorporated - Avocado Heights

2751

40605

Unincorporated - Azusa

6427

40363

Unincorporated - Bassett

6273

42337

Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon

207

19292

Unincorporated - Bradbury

137

126852

Unincorporated - Canyon Country

3815

49366

Unincorporated - Castaic*

9806

36063

Unincorporated - Cerritos

193

32879

Unincorporated - Charter Oak

10

50000

Unincorporated - Claremont

160

22792

Unincorporated - Covina

6333

37654

Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)

5116

38923

Unincorporated - Del Aire

1236

28136

Unincorporated - Del Rey

149

46855

Unincorporated - Del Sur

711

29441

Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands

971

38949

Unincorporated - Duarte

2037

46003

Unincorporated - East Covina

91

27660

Unincorporated - East La Mirada

1666

31481

Unincorporated - East Lancaster

44

38596

Unincorporated - East Los Angeles

59092

47172

Unincorporated - East Pasadena

434

6778

Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez

6425

41972

Unincorporated - East Whittier

1451

27346

Unincorporated - El Camino Village

2787

31703

Unincorporated - El Monte

1

690

Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake

291

17520

Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone

30643

47358

Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon

2

16667

Unincorporated - Glendora

200

30303

Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights

16766

29979

Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway

4

400000

Unincorporated - Hawthorne

767

30509

Unincorporated - Hi Vista

175

15938

Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons

324

22946

Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose

4547

22963

Unincorporated - La Habra Heights

21

3107

Unincorporated - La Rambla

941

45349

Unincorporated - La Verne*

668

32745

Unincorporated - Ladera Heights

2127

30081

Unincorporated - Lake Hughes

207

30988

Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles

4111

31638

Unincorporated - Lake Manor

469

28545

Unincorporated - Lakewood

28

24561

Unincorporated - Lennox

7741

34340

Unincorporated - Leona Valley

315

17990

Unincorporated - Littlerock

1428

35514

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills

366

28219

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom

1336

37433

Unincorporated - Llano

109

12429

Unincorporated - Marina del Rey

2780

29540

Unincorporated - Miracle Mile

0

0

Unincorporated - Monrovia

1143

29451

Unincorporated - Newhall

107

48636

Unincorporated - North Lancaster

515

42988

Unincorporated - North Whittier

3183

38074

Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel

5392

22433

Unincorporated - Padua Hills

38

17674

Unincorporated - Palmdale

270

32067

Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula

130

20934

Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano

437

22342

Unincorporated - Pellissier Village

378

61066

Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon

24

5217

Unincorporated - Pomona

127

6553

Unincorporated - Quartz Hill

3951

30614

Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez

1229

46186

Unincorporated - Roosevelt

284

30505

Unincorporated - Rosewood

518

40280

Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena

554

46438

Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez

1367

40672

Unincorporated - Rowland Heights

12621

24736

Unincorporated - San Clemente Island

0

0

Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

44

5128

Unincorporated - San Jose Hills

8024

39682

Unincorporated - San Pasqual

91

4472

Unincorporated - Sand Canyon

63

20455

Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island

597

223596

Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*

3997

21465

Unincorporated - Saugus

349

225161

Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country

135

37921

Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley

123

27033

Unincorporated - South El Monte

768

42786

Unincorporated - South San Gabriel

3260

36844

Unincorporated - South Whittier

21875

36937

Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley

253

32394

Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch

6078

28990

Unincorporated - Sun Village

2160

35785

Unincorporated - Sunrise Village

599

46219

Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain

443

26719

Unincorporated - Val Verde

1233

37262

Unincorporated - Valencia

951

30957

Unincorporated - Valinda

9754

41735

Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills

3685

31672

Unincorporated - Walnut Park

7514

46546

Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley

192

12707

Unincorporated - West Carson

8456

38287

Unincorporated - West Chatsworth

5

41667

Unincorporated - West LA

903

94853

Unincorporated - West Puente Valley

4296

43681

Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez

504

37086

Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos

10892

40453

Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills

260

20000

Unincorporated - Westhills

205

24434

Unincorporated - White Fence Farms

943

25604

Unincorporated - Whittier

1017

26876

Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows

77

641667

Unincorporated - Willowbrook

16905

48420

Unincorporated - Wiseburn

1931

32039

?- Under Investigation

72214

?

*? --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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