news release DPH

For Immediate Release:

Nov. 30, 2023

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Public Health Advises: It?s Not Too Late to Get the Updated COVID-19, Flu Vaccines for Maximum Protection This Winter

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Heading into December, some residents may be questioning whether they missed the window of opportunity to get effective protection against this winter?s respiratory viruses before holiday festivities begin. The best time to get vaccinated is at least two weeks before gathering, but there is still a benefit for getting vaccines at any time. ?

Spread of respiratory viruses tends to increase this time of year, when people are gathering, traveling and spending more time indoors. Local data shows that circulation of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), is beginning to increase in Los Angeles County and getting vaccinated now can still provide protection against severe illness throughout this winter?s respiratory virus season.

Levels of flu and RSV are measured by looking at the percentage of lab tests that are positive at sentinel surveillance laboratories. This week for flu, 6.8 percent of specimens were positive, compared to 3 percent two weeks prior. For RSV, 13 percent of specimens tested positive compared to 9 percent two weeks earlier.

Since Nov. 1, in Los Angeles County, the reported daily average of COVID-19 cases has increased from 198 to 249. The number of reported COVID-19 cases helps to illustrate larger COVID-19 trends; however, the total is an undercount due to the large number of home test results that are not reported, and the data also does not catch incidences when people are infected but do not test. If all three viruses continue to increase in Los Angeles County, there is potential for a ?tripledemic? that could strain local health care resources.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) monitors wastewater levels of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 infection, for a more comprehensive measure of COVID-19 in the community. On Nov. 1, wastewater concentrations were at 11 percent of the peak concentration observed last winter. For the most recent reported week, the concentration is 24 percent of the 2022-23 winter peak, more than doubling over the past four weeks. Current levels are not a cause for increased concern for rapid spread, yet the trend indicates that people should be thinking about increased protection for this winter.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is designed to target COVID strains circulating now, and research shows that it is effective at reducing the chance of severe illness and long COVID. The vaccine is also expected to provide similar protection against the emerging strain BA.2.86, which the World Health Organization (WHO) designated as a variant of interest earlier this week.

As of the most recently completed variant sequencing in Los Angeles County, for specimens collected during the two-week period ending Oct. 28, BA.2.86 accounted for 1 percent of specimens, making it the first time it has met the 1 percent threshold locally since it was identified by the WHO as a new strain in late July. Nowcast models from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predict that as of Nov. 25, BA.2.86 accounts for 5 percent of COVID-19 circulating in Region 9, which includes California. EG.5, a descendant of Omicron XBB, accounts for the largest proportion of cases in Los Angeles County at 26 percent followed by HV.1, also a descendant of Omicron XBB, accounting for 23 percent of specimens.

Updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older, regardless of prior vaccination or infection status. This year?s vaccines target the strains of COVID-19 and flu that are circulating now.? Besides providing protection from severe illness for yourself and others, vaccination also can help minimize disruptions and cancellations due to illness this holiday season. There should be no out-of-pocket costs for vaccines regardless of insurance or immigration status.? More information, including links to schedule, how to find pop-up vaccination events and answers to questions about vaccines, can be found at ph.lacounty.gov/vaccines.

This year, increased protection against RSV is also available for people over 60 and very young children. The CDC estimates that each year RSV causes between 58,000?80,000 hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old and 6,000?10,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older.

People ages 60 and older should speak with a provider to see if the new RSV vaccine is a good option for them. All infants under the age of 6 months and some older children with underlying health conditions should get nirsevimab (Beyfortus) to protect against RSV infection this season.? If infants can't get the RSV immunization from their provider and they have Medi-Cal, they can visit a Public Health Center for the injection. Additionally, people who are 32 through 36 weeks pregnant during September through January should get one dose of maternal RSV vaccine to protect their babies.

Los Angeles County residents who have questions about respiratory symptoms, how to find a Public Health Center, where to get vaccination or how to get tested, can access the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473, open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Public Health staff can answer questions related to COVID-19, flu or RSV and can help schedule vaccination appointments, including in-home vaccinations for people who are homebound.

In Los Angeles County, based on data through Nov. 18, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hospital Admission Level is Low at 4.3 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.

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Metric

Date of Weekly Report

11/29/2023

11/22/2023

11/15/2023

11/8/2023

Daily average cases?

249

275

250

211

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

24%

13%

12%

15%

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

3.3%

3.6%

3.0%

2.8%

Daily average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations

396

357

304

288

Daily average deaths

1.6

2.7

3.4

3.6

Percent of all deaths due to COVID-19

2.0%

1.1%

0.9%

1.9%

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.?

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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 for 11/22, 11/15, and 11/8. 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.?

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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

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ? Spanish:

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

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Cases through 12:00pm 11/27/2023

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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)

3,825,076

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Deaths (includes LB and Pas)

36,987

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

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?

- 0 to 4

116,197

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- 5 to 11

285,055

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- 12 to 17

279,941

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- 18 to 29

769,158

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- 30 to 49

1,155,372

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- 50 to 64

631,244

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- 65 to 79

278,923

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-? over 80

100,902

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-? Under Investigation

3,291

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

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-? Female

1,871,779

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-? Male

1,656,137

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-? Other

1,901

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-? Under Investigation

90,266

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

6,878

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-? Asian

271,191

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-? Black

192,918

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-? Hispanic/Latino

1,538,298

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-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

18,089

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-? White

506,555

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-? Other

418,316

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-? Under Investigation

667,838

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

?

?

-? Hospitalized (Ever)

189,324

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

82

?

-? Asian

4,613

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-? Black

3,293

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-? Hispanic/Latino

17,015

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-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

114

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-? White

9,388

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-? Other

475

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-? Under Investigation

107

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CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6499

31121

City of Alhambra

26208

30220

City of Arcadia

14114

24438

City of Artesia

6200

36916

City of Avalon

298

7702

City of Azusa

17830

35631

City of Baldwin Park

30255

39410

City of Bell

17228

47418

City of Bell Gardens

17399

40396

City of Bellflower

31432

40435

City of Beverly Hills

11889

34441

City of Bradbury

71

6642

City of Burbank

33685

31428

City of Calabasas

6062

24923

City of Carson

35907

38262

City of Cerritos

13804

27571

City of Claremont

10647

29183

City of Commerce*

5954

45558

City of Compton

41104

41143

City of Covina

20752

42323

City of Cudahy

12351

50729

City of Culver City

12359

31002

City of Diamond Bar

14028

24390

City of Downey

47618

41674

City of Duarte

7677

34870

City of El Monte

43585

37167

City of El Segundo

4203

25039

City of Gardena

22555

36788

City of Glendale

61719

29889

City of Glendora

15526

29425

City of Hawaiian Gardens

5112

34832

City of Hawthorne

30385

34222

City of Hermosa Beach

4873

24774

City of Hidden Hills

394

20847

City of Huntington Park

26660

44819

City of Industry

1056

241648

City of Inglewood

39738

34986

City of Irwindale

903

61892

City of La Canada Flintridge

4706

22742

City of La Habra Heights

215

3941

City of La Mirada

14612

29460

City of La Puente

16252

39934

City of La Verne

9454

28406

City of Lakewood

27788

34579

City of Lancaster*

65661

40639

City of Lawndale

10850

32278

City of Lomita

6293

30358

City of Lynwood*

31878

44246

City of Malibu

2963

22861

City of Manhattan Beach

7673

21314

City of Maywood

13012

46390

City of Monrovia

12153

31322

City of Montebello

25956

40320

City of Monterey Park

17988

28891

City of Norwalk

43879

40771

City of Palmdale

68207

42906

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2355

17416

City of Paramount

23089

41213

City of Pico Rivera

28598

44487

City of Pomona

66850

42872

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

8131

19021

City of Redondo Beach

16160

23524

City of Rolling Hills

306

15773

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1621

19980

City of Rosemead

15587

28161

City of San Dimas*

11339

32851

City of San Fernando

13007

52848

City of San Gabriel

11917

29099

City of San Marino

2511

18912

City of Santa Clarita

75713

34349

City of Santa Fe Springs

8018

43662

City of Santa Monica

27461

29705

City of Sierra Madre

2513

22868

City of Signal Hill

4197

35577

City of South El Monte

8572

41044

City of South Gate

47853

48752

City of South Pasadena

6513

24999

City of Temple City

11007

30193

City of Torrance

35681

23904

City of Vernon

361

172727

City of Walnut

7758

25409

City of West Covina

40443

37366

City of West Hollywood

11573

31320

City of Westlake Village

459

5490

City of Whittier

31887

36471

Los Angeles

1561686

38612

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3266

39820

Los Angeles - Alsace

4635

37244

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

0

0

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

856

34213

Los Angeles - Arleta

17210

50073

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

5197

35436

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

10562

33934

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2534

30063

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3427

27361

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

4326

32840

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

41086

47288

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8677

28031

Los Angeles - Brookside

158

27194

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2348

32973

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

25916

39694

Los Angeles - Carthay

4541

31616

Los Angeles - Central

17219

44160

Los Angeles - Century City

3892

30425

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

16624

49233

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

13323

35949

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2632

28699

Los Angeles - Chinatown

3028

37751

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5437

37360

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

5008

33050

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5507

39822

Los Angeles - Crestview

4074

35837

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8723

29139

Los Angeles - Downtown*

16501

59988

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

14137

35709

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9772

33366

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4584

32155

Los Angeles - El Sereno

17249

41258

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1874

32808

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3637

35759

Los Angeles - Encino

15670

34690

Los Angeles - Exposition

1319

39657

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

18536

41267

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1297

36028

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3876

44444

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

23206

48911

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

11235

35549

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

4304

39985

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

22170

38099

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

10273

47770

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4850

28464

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9684

33313

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

16097

36920

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

661

27439

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6269

34760

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

18378

48446

Los Angeles - Highland Park

17598

36366

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5604

40404

Los Angeles - Hollywood

22196

32520

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7868

26731

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

12274

43005

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3222

39911

Los Angeles - Koreatown

16531

31979

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1631

35775

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

16673

39504

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

6301

47978

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5930

38924

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

13056

40053

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

3113

38791

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8817

31108

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1539

49122

Los Angeles - Longwood

1839

42728

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

6579

30447

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

3345

39187

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

934

29898

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

11363

26755

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

994

22798

Los Angeles - Melrose

26846

34553

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4618

30725

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

5082

28257

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

12216

50638

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

8396

34773

Los Angeles - North Hills

25954

42150

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

60412

39897

Los Angeles - Northridge

26316

37704

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

5208

24461

Los Angeles - Pacoima

39512

51328

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

958

24909

Los Angeles - Palms

12487

28459

Los Angeles - Panorama City

34268

45539

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

3336

24566

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

16653

39800

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

625

19556

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3560

32520

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

10924

30696

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2330

35518

Los Angeles - Regent Square

903

32482

Los Angeles - Reseda

32980

43045

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1845

39797

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1210

28619

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

26970

34560

Los Angeles - Shadow Hills

1349

30369

Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks

28543

32713

Los Angeles - Silverlake

13603

30858

Los Angeles - South Carthay

3397

32062

Los Angeles - South Park

17112

45078

Los Angeles - St Elmo Village

1909

41645

Los Angeles - Studio City

7251

32313

Los Angeles - Sun Valley

23691

45140

Los Angeles - Sunland

7086

34722

Los Angeles - Sycamore Square

213

32921

Los Angeles - Sylmar*

43081

52284

Los Angeles - Tarzana

10891

35273

Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry

13743

34808

Los Angeles - Thai Town

2869

29249

Los Angeles - Toluca Lake

2628

30193

Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace

541

41424

Los Angeles - Toluca Woods

498

26803

Los Angeles - Tujunga

9218

33146

Los Angeles - University Hills

950

27705

Los Angeles - University Park

11771

42872

Los Angeles - Valley Glen

11467

38203

Los Angeles - Valley Village

8788

35550

Los Angeles - Van Nuys*

38538

41352

Los Angeles - Venice

9389

27708

Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls

7690

44709

Los Angeles - Vermont Square

3819

49876

Los Angeles - Vermont Vista

19090

46351

Los Angeles - Vernon Central

25028

48133

Los Angeles - Victoria Park

2875

34230

Los Angeles - View Heights

1155

31267

Los Angeles - Watts

20056

46998

Los Angeles - Wellington Square

1882

38291

Los Angeles - West Adams

11176

40449

Los Angeles - West Hills

13354

32936

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles

12074

32081

Los Angeles - West Vernon

25167

46915

Los Angeles - Westchester

14349

27807

Los Angeles - Westlake

21331

35938

Los Angeles - Westwood

17244

31869

Los Angeles - Wholesale District*

22777

63044

Los Angeles - Wilmington

24178

42803

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center

17440

34762

Los Angeles - Winnetka

20498

39582

Los Angeles - Woodland Hills

21348

31369

Unincorporated - Acton

2081

26107

Unincorporated - Agua Dulce

1022

24579

Unincorporated - Altadena

12151

27856

Unincorporated - Anaverde

428

28382

Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest

94

7550

Unincorporated - Arcadia

2333

29232

Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont

2869

58587

Unincorporated - Athens Village

18014

42444

Unincorporated - Avocado Heights

2783

41077

Unincorporated - Azusa

6483

40715

Unincorporated - Bassett

6340

42789

Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon

215

20037

Unincorporated - Bradbury

143

132407

Unincorporated - Canyon Country

3884

50259

Unincorporated - Castaic*

10008

36806

Unincorporated - Cerritos

193

32879

Unincorporated - Charter Oak

10

50000

Unincorporated - Claremont

161

22934

Unincorporated - Covina

6416

38147

Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)

5160

39257

Unincorporated - Del Aire

1256

28591

Unincorporated - Del Rey

151

47484

Unincorporated - Del Sur

715

29607

Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands

988

39631

Unincorporated - Duarte

2063

46590

Unincorporated - East Covina

92

27964

Unincorporated - East La Mirada

1678

31708

Unincorporated - East Lancaster

45

39474

Unincorporated - East Los Angeles

59610

47586

Unincorporated - East Pasadena

437

6825

Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez

6465

42233

Unincorporated - East Whittier

1477

27836

Unincorporated - El Camino Village

2833

32226

Unincorporated - El Monte

1

690

Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake

296

17821

Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone

30862

47696

Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon

2

16667

Unincorporated - Glendora

202

30606

Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights

16921

30256

Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway

4

400000

Unincorporated - Hawthorne

780

31026

Unincorporated - Hi Vista

175

15938

Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons

331

23442

Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose

4618

23322

Unincorporated - La Habra Heights

21

3107

Unincorporated - La Rambla

978

47133

Unincorporated - La Verne*

671

32892

Unincorporated - Ladera Heights

2172

30717

Unincorporated - Lake Hughes

208

31138

Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles

4160

32015

Unincorporated - Lake Manor

479

29154

Unincorporated - Lakewood

28

24561

Unincorporated - Lennox

7834

34753

Unincorporated - Leona Valley

317

18104

Unincorporated - Littlerock

1447

35986

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills

369

28450

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom

1347

37742

Unincorporated - Llano

111

12657

Unincorporated - Marina del Rey

2833

30103

Unincorporated - Miracle Mile

0

0

Unincorporated - Monrovia

1156

29786

Unincorporated - Newhall

109

49545

Unincorporated - North Lancaster

515

42988

Unincorporated - North Whittier

3227

38600

Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel

5487

22828

Unincorporated - Padua Hills

38

17674

Unincorporated - Palmdale

273

32423

Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula

135

21739

Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano

443

22648

Unincorporated - Pellissier Village

381

61551

Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon

24

5217

Unincorporated - Pomona

129

6656

Unincorporated - Quartz Hill

3997

30970

Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez

1252

47050

Unincorporated - Roosevelt

288

30934

Unincorporated - Rosewood

524

40747

Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena

563

47192

Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez

1389

41327

Unincorporated - Rowland Heights

12797

25081

Unincorporated - San Clemente Island

0

0

Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

46

5361

Unincorporated - San Jose Hills

8076

39939

Unincorporated - San Pasqual

91

4472

Unincorporated - Sand Canyon

64

20779

Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island

597

223596

Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*

4059

21798

Unincorporated - Saugus

354

228387

Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country

152

42697

Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley

126

27692

Unincorporated - South El Monte

772

43008

Unincorporated - South San Gabriel

3322

37545

Unincorporated - South Whittier

22044

37223

Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley

260

33291

Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch

6213

29634

Unincorporated - Sun Village

2188

36249

Unincorporated - Sunrise Village

604

46605

Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain

454

27382

Unincorporated - Val Verde

1252

37836

Unincorporated - Valencia

971

31608

Unincorporated - Valinda

9854

42163

Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills

3756

32282

Unincorporated - Walnut Park

7558

46819

Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley

196

12972

Unincorporated - West Carson

8676

39283

Unincorporated - West Chatsworth

5

41667

Unincorporated - West LA

955

100315

Unincorporated - West Puente Valley

4340

44128

Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez

511

37601

Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos

10969

40739

Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills

265

20385

Unincorporated - Westhills

208

24791

Unincorporated - White Fence Farms

954

25903

Unincorporated - Whittier

1027

27141

Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows

78

650000

Unincorporated - Willowbrook

17091

48953

Unincorporated - Wiseburn

1973

32736

?- Under Investigation

74572

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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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This email was sent using GovDelivery Communications Cloud to [email protected] on behalf of: County of Los Angeles, California ? 500 W. Temple St. ? Los Angeles 90012 ?