news release DPH

For Immediate Release:

October 5, 2023

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With Respiratory Virus Season Approaching, Public Health Recommends Getting Updated COVID-19,

Flu Vaccines Now

Free Vaccines Available at 10 Public Health Sites Starting Today

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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) reminds residents that it is important to start planning for the upcoming Respiratory Virus Season, also called Flu Season or Cold and Flu Season, to help reduce the risk of severe illness this winter and minimize disruptions to daily activities.

Getting up to date on vaccines now can help prepare for the upcoming months when transmission of COVID-19, influenza (flu) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) typically increases. Flu and updated COVID vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older and can be administered together. More than 1,000 sites across Los Angeles County will have seasonal vaccines available including, as of today, eight Public Health clinics.

The updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available, starting today, at all eight Public Health Centers in Los Angeles County. Two Public Health vaccine sites, known as PODS, at Ted Watkins Memorial Park and Obregon Park began administering the updated COVID-19 vaccine last week. Public Health Mobile Vaccine Teams also are set up throughout the county to offer free vaccines; their locations are listed at myturn.ca.gov. There should be no out-of-pocket cost for the vaccines, and everyone is eligible regardless of insurance or immigration status.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for the 2023-24 respiratory virus season, which will soon be available for anyone who prefers a non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine option.

Public Health recommends that residents, especially those in higher risk groups, such as adults over 65 years old, people who are immunocompromised and people with underlying health conditions, plan to receive their updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines as soon as possible for maximum protection before the start of Respiratory Virus Season.

Last winter, the 7-day average for reported COVID-19 cases peaked the week ending Dec. 2, along with SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentrations. More time indoors and holiday travel can contribute to increased winter cases.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine, which was formulated to target COVID-19 strains circulating now, has been shown in studies to increase protections against COVID and reduce severe illness for those infected. Young children and people who are immunocompromised may need more than one vaccine for maximum vaccine effectiveness and should speak to a provider for recommended dosing and schedule.

COVID-19 strains currently circulating in Los Angeles County are all descendants of the Omicron variant and more than 95 percent are descendants of the Omicron XBB strain, which the vaccine is designed to protect against. For the two-week period ending Sept. 2, EG.5 was the dominant strain, accounting for 30 percent of sequenced specimens. The next most dominant strains were XBB.2.3, XBB.1.16, and XBB.1.5 each accounting for about 8 percent of sequenced specimens.

Likewise, there is evidence that this year?s flu vaccine will be a strong match for circulating strains. Flu transmission and vaccine effectiveness in the Southern Hemisphere from April through September can foreshadow respiratory illness patterns that could be seen in the Northern Hemisphere this fall. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the 2023 seasonal flu vaccine reduced the risk for influenza-associated hospitalizations in the Southern Hemisphere by 52 percent and that the vaccine could provide similar protections in the Northern Hemisphere. Many sites in Los Angeles County have both the flu and updated COVID-19 vaccines available.?

Because any case of influenza can be severe, especially when it spreads to people who are high risk, including older adults and young children, it remains prudent to get the flu vaccine now, before transmission increases significantly. Flu transmission is measured by the percentage of respiratory samples at local labs and for the most recent week, 0.8 % of samples tested positive.

Those who are 60 and older, have infants or are pregnant should speak with their providers about options for RSV vaccines or medicines.

Taking steps to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, flu and RSV during this Respiratory Virus Season not only protects each other, but also helps to keep the health care system from becoming overwhelmed. Besides vaccination, people should stay home when sick and practice good hand hygiene. This may also be a good time to stock up on COVID tests and high-quality well-fitting masks for extra protection when in poorly ventilated indoor spaces.

As of Sept. 25, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home by visiting covid.gov/tests. Free at-home test kits also are available for pick up at Public Health vaccine sites, all Los Angeles County and City of Los Angeles libraries, many food banks, senior centers and other local organization. Detailed information is available at ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests.

For people who have questions, need help finding a test site or scheduling a vaccine appointment, including requests for at-home vaccination for people who are homebound, can call the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473. This free service is available seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In Los Angeles County, based on data through Sept. 23, the CDC Hospital Admission Level is 6.1, lower than the week before.

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.

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Weekly COVID-19 Data Table

Metric

Date of Weekly Report

10/04/2023

9/27/2023

9/20/2023

9/13/2023

Daily average cases

?303

382

475

558

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

?19%

30%

38%

33%

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

?3.3%

3.9%

3.8%

4.9%

Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations

?463

544

588

620

Daily average deaths

?5.0

3.9

4.0

4.0

Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19

?2.9%

3.5%

2.8%

2.4%

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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.

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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.

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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/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

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Cases through 12:00pm 10/02/2023

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Total Cases

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

3,807,392

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Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

36,777

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

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- 0 to 4

115,213

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- 5 to 11

284,728

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- 12 to 17

279,569

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- 18 to 29

767,226

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- 30 to 49

1,151,522

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- 50 to 64

627,577

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- 65 to 79

275,276

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-? over 80

98,685

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-? Under Investigation

2,603

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

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-? Female

1,862,237

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-? Male

1,648,802

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-? Other

1,885

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-? Under Investigation

89,475

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

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-? American Indian/Alaska Native

6,840

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-? Asian

269,445

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-? Black

191,489

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-? Hispanic/Latino

1,533,275

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-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

18,005

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-? White

502,819

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-? Other

416,014

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-? Under Investigation

664,512

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

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-? Hospitalized (Ever)

186,455

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

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-? American Indian/Alaska Native

82

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-? Asian

4,580

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-? Black

3,278

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-? Hispanic/Latino

16,960

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-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

114

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-? White

9,321

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-? Other

457

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-? Under Investigation

98

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CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6468

30973

City of Alhambra

26010

29992

City of Arcadia

14027

24287

City of Artesia

6169

36731

City of Avalon

293

7573

City of Azusa

17774

35520

City of Baldwin Park

30122

39237

City of Bell

17186

47303

City of Bell Gardens

17372

40333

City of Bellflower

31328

40301

City of Beverly Hills

11815

34227

City of Bradbury

71

6642

City of Burbank

33486

31243

City of Calabasas

6016

24734

City of Carson

35727

38070

City of Cerritos

13725

27413

City of Claremont

10567

28963

City of Commerce*

5938

45436

City of Compton

40977

41016

City of Covina

20647

42109

City of Cudahy

12327

50630

City of Culver City

12270

30779

City of Diamond Bar

13958

24268

City of Downey

47477

41551

City of Duarte

7625

34634

City of El Monte

43435

37039

City of El Segundo

4182

24914

City of Gardena

22397

36531

City of Glendale

61414

29741

City of Glendora

15424

29232

City of Hawaiian Gardens

5093

34703

City of Hawthorne

30258

34079

City of Hermosa Beach

4840

24606

City of Hidden Hills

394

20847

City of Huntington Park

26619

44750

City of Industry

1044

238902

City of Inglewood

39542

34814

City of Irwindale

902

61823

City of La Canada Flintridge

4667

22554

City of La Habra Heights

215

3941

City of La Mirada

14531

29297

City of La Puente

16191

39784

City of La Verne

9408

28268

City of Lakewood

27679

34443

City of Lancaster*

65293

40412

City of Lawndale

10801

32132

City of Lomita

6247

30137

City of Lynwood*

31783

44114

City of Malibu

2943

22707

City of Manhattan Beach

7620

21167

City of Maywood

12969

46237

City of Monrovia

12065

31095

City of Montebello

25849

40154

City of Monterey Park

17877

28713

City of Norwalk

43720

40624

City of Palmdale

67901

42714

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2337

17283

City of Paramount

23038

41122

City of Pico Rivera

28484

44310

City of Pomona

66618

42723

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

8046

18822

City of Redondo Beach

16022

23323

City of Rolling Hills

304

15670

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1598

19697

City of Rosemead

15509

28020

City of San Dimas*

11292

32715

City of San Fernando

12952

52625

City of San Gabriel

11714

28603

City of San Marino

2489

18747

City of Santa Clarita

75165

34100

City of Santa Fe Springs

8000

43563

City of Santa Monica

27212

29436

City of Sierra Madre

2485

22614

City of Signal Hill

4189

35509

City of South El Monte

8543

40905

City of South Gate

47756

48654

City of South Pasadena

6467

24822

City of Temple City

10955

30051

City of Torrance

35385

23706

City of Vernon

361

172727

City of Walnut

7724

25298

City of West Covina

40255

37192

City of West Hollywood

11494

31106

City of Westlake Village

459

5490

City of Whittier

31779

36347

Los Angeles

1554691

38439

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3257

39710

Los Angeles - Alsace

4620

37123

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

0

0

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

854

34133

Los Angeles - Arleta

17138

49863

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

5174

35279

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

10497

33725

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2518

29873

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3413

27250

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

4307

32696

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

40996

47185

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8620

27847

Los Angeles - Brookside

158

27194

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2337

32818

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

25797

39512

Los Angeles - Carthay

4512

31414

Los Angeles - Central

17190

44086

Los Angeles - Century City

3860

30175

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

16559

49040

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

13235

35711

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2617

28536

Los Angeles - Chinatown

3012

37551

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5422

37257

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

4986

32904

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5473

39576

Los Angeles - Crestview

4062

35732

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8663

28938

Los Angeles - Downtown*

16439

59763

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

14068

35535

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9739

33254

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4575

32092

Los Angeles - El Sereno

17183

41100

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1867

32686

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3629

35680

Los Angeles - Encino

15576

34482

Los Angeles - Exposition

1315

39537

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

18501

41189

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1295

35972

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3859

44250

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

23164

48823

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

11191

35410

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

4269

39660

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

22023

37846

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

10246

47645

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4838

28394

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9626

33113

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

16028

36761

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

658

27314

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6241

34605

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

18332

48325

Los Angeles - Highland Park

17508

36180

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5594

40332

Los Angeles - Hollywood

22089

32363

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7833

26612

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

12211

42784

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3208

39737

Los Angeles - Koreatown

16480

31881

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1626

35666

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

16607

39347

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

6236

47483

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5906

38766

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

13014

39924

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

3099

38617

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8786

30999

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1533

48931

Los Angeles - Longwood

1828

42472

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

6535

30243

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

3332

39035

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

928

29706

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

11256

26503

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

989

22683

Los Angeles - Melrose

26739

34415

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4595

30572

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

5048

28068

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

12153

50377

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

8366

34649

Los Angeles - North Hills

25827

41944

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

60117

39702

Los Angeles - Northridge

26169

37493

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

5166

24264

Los Angeles - Pacoima

39370

51144

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

949

24675

Los Angeles - Palms

12406

28274

Los Angeles - Panorama City

34076

45284

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

3319

24440

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

16623

39728

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

622

19462

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3535

32292

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

10843

30468

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2304

35122

Los Angeles - Regent Square

894

32158

Los Angeles - Reseda

32799

42809

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1836

39603

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1204

28477

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

26821

34369

Los Angeles - Shadow Hills

1343

30234

Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks

28385

32531

Los Angeles - Silverlake

13539

30713

Los Angeles - South Carthay

3378

31883

Los Angeles - South Park

17082

44999

Los Angeles - St Elmo Village

1901

41470

Los Angeles - Studio City

7206

32112

Los Angeles - Sun Valley

23602

44971

Los Angeles - Sunland

7057

34580

Los Angeles - Sycamore Square

212

32767

Los Angeles - Sylmar*

42919

52087

Los Angeles - Tarzana

10793

34956

Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry

13710

34725

Los Angeles - Thai Town

2863

29187

Los Angeles - Toluca Lake

2618

30078

Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace

537

41118

Los Angeles - Toluca Woods

496

26695

Los Angeles - Tujunga

9169

32970

Los Angeles - University Hills

946

27588

Los Angeles - University Park

11747

42785

Los Angeles - Valley Glen

11423

38056

Los Angeles - Valley Village

8741

35360

Los Angeles - Van Nuys*

38364

41166

Los Angeles - Venice

9344

27576

Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls

7650

44477

Los Angeles - Vermont Square

3810

49758

Los Angeles - Vermont Vista

19028

46200

Los Angeles - Vernon Central

24988

48056

Los Angeles - Victoria Park

2867

34135

Los Angeles - View Heights

1146

31023

Los Angeles - Watts

20011

46893

Los Angeles - Wellington Square

1879

38230

Los Angeles - West Adams

11150

40355

Los Angeles - West Hills

13274

32739

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles

11988

31852

Los Angeles - West Vernon

25105

46799

Los Angeles - Westchester

14256

27626

Los Angeles - Westlake

21267

35830

Los Angeles - Westwood

17101

31605

Los Angeles - Wholesale District*

22695

62817

Los Angeles - Wilmington

24104

42672

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center

17397

34676

Los Angeles - Winnetka

20374

39343

Los Angeles - Woodland Hills

21196

31145

Unincorporated - Acton

2062

25869

Unincorporated - Agua Dulce

1017

24459

Unincorporated - Altadena

12056

27639

Unincorporated - Anaverde

426

28249

Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest

94

7550

Unincorporated - Arcadia

2321

29082

Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont

2865

58505

Unincorporated - Athens Village

17949

42291

Unincorporated - Avocado Heights

2766

40827

Unincorporated - Azusa

6462

40583

Unincorporated - Bassett

6321

42660

Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon

211

19664

Unincorporated - Bradbury

137

126852

Unincorporated - Canyon Country

3851

49832

Unincorporated - Castaic*

9931

36523

Unincorporated - Cerritos

193

32879

Unincorporated - Charter Oak

10

50000

Unincorporated - Claremont

160

22792

Unincorporated - Covina

6392

38005

Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)

5146

39151

Unincorporated - Del Aire

1248

28409

Unincorporated - Del Rey

150

47170

Unincorporated - Del Sur

714

29565

Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands

981

39350

Unincorporated - Duarte

2052

46341

Unincorporated - East Covina

92

27964

Unincorporated - East La Mirada

1674

31633

Unincorporated - East Lancaster

44

38596

Unincorporated - East Los Angeles

59461

47467

Unincorporated - East Pasadena

435

6794

Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez

6455

42167

Unincorporated - East Whittier

1465

27610

Unincorporated - El Camino Village

2822

32101

Unincorporated - El Monte

1

690

Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake

293

17640

Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone

30802

47604

Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon

2

16667

Unincorporated - Glendora

202

30606

Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights

16871

30167

Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway

4

400000

Unincorporated - Hawthorne

778

30947

Unincorporated - Hi Vista

175

15938

Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons

329

23300

Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose

4586

23160

Unincorporated - La Habra Heights

21

3107

Unincorporated - La Rambla

967

46602

Unincorporated - La Verne*

671

32892

Unincorporated - Ladera Heights

2154

30462

Unincorporated - Lake Hughes

208

31138

Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles

4141

31869

Unincorporated - Lake Manor

479

29154

Unincorporated - Lakewood

28

24561

Unincorporated - Lennox

7805

34624

Unincorporated - Leona Valley

317

18104

Unincorporated - Littlerock

1442

35862

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills

368

28373

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom

1344

37658

Unincorporated - Llano

110

12543

Unincorporated - Marina del Rey

2811

29869

Unincorporated - Miracle Mile

0

0

Unincorporated - Monrovia

1153

29709

Unincorporated - Newhall

107

48636

Unincorporated - North Lancaster

516

43072

Unincorporated - North Whittier

3213

38433

Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel

5445

22654

Unincorporated - Padua Hills

38

17674

Unincorporated - Palmdale

273

32423

Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula

132

21256

Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano

440

22495

Unincorporated - Pellissier Village

380

61389

Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon

24

5217

Unincorporated - Pomona

129

6656

Unincorporated - Quartz Hill

3973

30784

Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez

1243

46712

Unincorporated - Roosevelt

285

30612

Unincorporated - Rosewood

522

40591

Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena

559

46857

Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez

1383

41148

Unincorporated - Rowland Heights

12722

24934

Unincorporated - San Clemente Island

0

0

Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

44

5128

Unincorporated - San Jose Hills

8063

39874

Unincorporated - San Pasqual

91

4472

Unincorporated - Sand Canyon

63

20455

Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island

597

223596

Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*

4026

21621

Unincorporated - Saugus

353

227742

Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country

150

42135

Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley

124

27253

Unincorporated - South El Monte

769

42841

Unincorporated - South San Gabriel

3283

37104

Unincorporated - South Whittier

21984

37121

Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley

257

32907

Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch

6150

29333

Unincorporated - Sun Village

2176

36050

Unincorporated - Sunrise Village

603

46528

Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain

447

26960

Unincorporated - Val Verde

1242

37534

Unincorporated - Valencia

961

31283

Unincorporated - Valinda

9829

42056

Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills

3730

32058

Unincorporated - Walnut Park

7547

46751

Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley

195

12905

Unincorporated - West Carson

8597

38925

Unincorporated - West Chatsworth

5

41667

Unincorporated - West LA

936

98319

Unincorporated - West Puente Valley

4325

43976

Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez

509

37454

Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos

10942

40639

Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills

263

20231

Unincorporated - Westhills

208

24791

Unincorporated - White Fence Farms

946

25686

Unincorporated - Whittier

1022

27008

Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows

77

641667

Unincorporated - Willowbrook

17043

48816

Unincorporated - Wiseburn

1952

32388

?- Under Investigation

73192

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*? --Case and death numbers include cases identified among persons detained at correctional facilities located in the city/community

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data are subject to change based on further investigation

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