news release DPH

For Immediate Release:

September 30, 2022

Wastewater Surveillance Shows Plateauing in Viral Concentrations

1,682 New Positive Cases and 6 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

With more individuals using over-the-counter (OTC) tests to assess COVID infections, the county COVID case rate, which doesn?t include the results from OTC tests, may underestimate the level of transmission.? Fortunately, Public Health is able to utilize wastewater surveillance to detect significant changes in viral loads or new variants.

Presently, there are four wastewater treatment plants that perform viral surveillance for SARS-CoV-2.

The two largest plants are the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant and the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant, serving about 7.5 million LA County residents across most of the county. ?At the Hyperion Plant, although viral concentrations declined notably in the first half of September, there was a small increase this past week. ?The Joint Water Pollution Control Plant reported small decreases throughout September.

The two smaller plants, the Lancaster Water Reclamation Plant that serves Lancaster and Palmdale, and the Tapia Water Reclamation Facility, serving Calabasas and surrounding areas, reported stable concentrations with small increases the past few days.

While the plateauing in viral concentrations in wastewater may signify that viral transmission is no longer decreasing, because most of our other early alert signals indicate low concern, we remain hopeful that transmission is not increasing at this time. However, the plateauing does highlight the need to carefully monitor the other signals to see if there are any additional signs in the next couple of weeks that suggest changes in transmission patterns or illness severity.?

Overall, the county continues to report improved COVID-19 metrics. The 7-day average case count in the county is 1,297, an 8% decline from one week ago when the 7-day average of 1,397 cases was reported.

Over the past seven days, the average number of daily COVID-positive patients in LA County hospitals was 499, a 17% decline from one week ago when the average number of daily COVID-positive patients per day was 602.

Deaths, which typically lag hospitalizations by several weeks, remained stable at an average of 11 deaths reported each day this past week, nearly the same as an average of 12 daily reported deaths a week ago. The 7-day average test positivity rate remains stable at 4.3% over the past week.

The Omicron variant continues to account for 100% of Los Angeles County sequenced specimens, and the BA.5 subvariant of Omicron, remains the predominant subvariant. In the week ending Sept 10, 93% of all sequenced specimens were BA.5, the same as the week before, and the week before that. In Region 9, which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and all of the U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean, the BA.5 subvariant is estimated to account for about 91% of sequenced specimens for the week ending September 24. Across the country, as of the week ending September 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the BA.5 subvariant accounted for 83% of specimens. And according to the World Health Organization, BA.5 and BA.4 (and their sublineages, including BA.4.6) are the dominant variants in Europe.

The relative proportions of other key sublineages Public Health are tracking in the county have changed only slightly, including BA.2.12.1, which was under 1% last week has now declined all the way to zero. BA 4.6 continues to hover at about 3%. To date, 30 specimens of BA.2.75 total have been detected, with under 1% of sequenced specimens testing positive for this sublineage in the most recently available data.

Also last week, Public Health began tracking a new subvariant, called BF.7, a sublineage of BA.5, and is also referred to as BA.5.2.1.7.? So far, seven sequenced specimens in LA County have been determined to be from BF.7. One was collected the week of August 6, four were collected the week of August 20, and two were collected the week of September 10.

?I send my deepest sympathies and wishes of peace and comfort to the many families who have lost a loved one from COVID-19,? said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. ?As we begin to enjoy fall and start planning for gatherings and holidays, we need to prepare for the possibility that there can be significant transmission of both influenza and COVID this fall and winter.? Both flu and COVID-19 are likely to infect more people when the days are shorter, and the temperatures are cooler.? This is both because people spend more time indoors where respiratory virus can accumulate and jump more easily from person to person and because cooler weather allows the flu and SARS-CoV-2 virus particles to linger longer in the air and travel further, potentially infecting airways that have lower defenses. ?And while we don?t have certainty on what this winter will be like, including how much of a surge in COVID and flu we are likely to have, we do know that as the cooler weather sets in and cases rise, the risks will increase for some people more than others.? Risks are elevated for older residents, for those with underlying health conditions, for those with more exposures, and for those unvaccinated.? As we prepare for the upcoming holidays, one strategy for reducing risk for those most vulnerable for bad outcomes should they become infected, is for everyone, including those at lower risk, to get the fall COVID bivalent booster and the flu vaccine soon. This is because those at lower risk, including children, can easily transmit both flu and COVID to those more vulnerable.????

Today, Public Health reported 6 additional deaths and 1,682?new positive cases. Of the 6 new deaths reported today, two people were between the ages of 50-64, two people were between the ages of 65-79, and two people were aged 80 years or older.? Of the six newly reported deaths, five had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 33,603.

Public Health has reported a total of 3,456,407 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today?s positivity rate is 4.3%.

There are 496 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,565,058 individuals, with 24% of people testing positive.

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?including:

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

For more information:

?

Total Cases

?

Laboratory Confirmed Cases

3,456,407

?

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

3,268,937

?

-- Long Beach

151,427

?

-- Pasadena

36,043

?

Deaths

33,603

?

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

31,842

?

-- Long Beach

1,330

?

-- Pasadena

431

?

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

?

?

- 0 to 4

103,366

?

- 5 to 11

274,564

?

- 12 to 17

268,598

?

- 18 to 29

714,211

?

- 30 to 49

1,051,889

?

- 50 to 64

554,121

?

- 65 to 79

225,731

?

-? over 80

73,970

?

-? Under Investigation

2,487

?

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

?

?

-? Female

1,678,001

?

-? Male

1,503,554

?

-? Other

1,542

?

-? Under Investigation

85,840

?

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

6,172

?

-? Asian

233,192

?

-? Black

167,849

?

-? Hispanic/Latino

1,417,765

?

-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

16,643

?

-? White

443,979

?

-? Other

370,939

?

-? Under Investigation

612,398

?

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

?

?

-? Hospitalized (Ever)

155,902

?

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

73

?

-? Asian

4,039

?

-? Black

2,971

?

-? Hispanic/Latino

16,048

?

-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

112

?

-? White

8,153

?

-? Other

360

?

-? Under Investigation

86

?

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

5963

28554

City of Alhambra

22624

26087

City of Arcadia

11700

20258

City of Artesia

5390

32093

City of Avalon

66

1706

City of Azusa

16411

32796

City of Baldwin Park

27393

35682

City of Bell

15933

43854

City of Bell Gardens

16096

37371

City of Bellflower

28136

36195

City of Beverly Hills

10617

30756

City of Bradbury

67

6268

City of Burbank

29442

27470

City of Calabasas

5298

21782

City of Carson

31984

34081

City of Cerritos

11827

23622

City of Claremont

8862

24290

City of Commerce*

5307

40608

City of Compton

38053

38090

City of Covina

17749

36199

City of Cudahy

11537

47386

City of Culver City

10392

26068

City of Diamond Bar

12084

21010

City of Downey

43116

37734

City of Duarte

6646

30187

City of El Monte

39343

33549

City of El Segundo

3725

22191

City of Gardena

20072

32739

City of Glendale

54609

26446

City of Glendora

14678

27818

City of Hawaiian Gardens

4815

32809

City of Hawthorne

27083

30503

City of Hermosa Beach

4330

22013

City of Hidden Hills

363

19206

City of Huntington Park

25181

42332

City of Industry

488

111670

City of Inglewood

34794

30633

City of Irwindale

630

43180

City of La Canada Flintridge

4106

19842

City of La Habra Heights

174

3190

City of La Mirada

12902

26013

City of La Puente

15094

37089

City of La Verne

8612

25876

City of Lakewood

24347

30297

City of Lancaster*

59341

36728

City of Lawndale

9860

29333

City of Lomita

5464

26359

City of Lynwood*

28793

39964

City of Malibu

2689

20747

City of Manhattan Beach

6688

18578

City of Maywood

12143

43292

City of Monrovia

10607

27338

City of Montebello

23251

36118

City of Monterey Park

15606

25065

City of Norwalk

39322

36537

City of Palmdale

61973

38985

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2005

14828

City of Paramount

21784

38884

City of Pico Rivera

25520

39699

City of Pomona

60724

38943

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

6768

15833

City of Redondo Beach

14001

20381

City of Rolling Hills

253

13041

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1365

16825

City of Rosemead

14046

25377

City of San Dimas*

10181

29496

City of San Fernando

11986

48700

City of San Gabriel

10102

24667

City of San Marino

2148

16178

City of Santa Clarita

67104

30443

City of Santa Fe Springs

7490

40786

City of Santa Monica

23996

25957

City of Sierra Madre

2109

19192

City of Signal Hill

3680

31194

City of South El Monte

7666

36706

City of South Gate

44422

45257

City of South Pasadena

5721

21959

City of Temple City

8896

24403

City of Torrance

30699

20566

City of Vernon

343

164115

City of Walnut

6749

22105

City of West Covina

36406

33636

City of West Hollywood

10286

27837

City of Westlake Village

359

4294

City of Whittier

28783

32920

Los Angeles

1413477

34947

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

2999

36564

Los Angeles - Alsace

4188

33652

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

6

15000

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

769

30735

Los Angeles - Arleta

15749

45822

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

4548

31011

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

9318

29937

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2201

26112

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3083

24615

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

3831

29082

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

38036

43778

Los Angeles - Brentwood

7729

24969

Los Angeles - Brookside

136

23408

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2218

31147

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

23665

36247

Los Angeles - Carthay

3886

27056

Los Angeles - Central

16317

41847

Los Angeles - Century City

3355

26227

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

15244

45146

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

11784

31796

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2303

25112

Los Angeles - Chinatown

2531

31555

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

4871

33471

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

4460

29433

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

4858

35129

Los Angeles - Crestview

3533

31078

Los Angeles - Del Rey

7768

25949

Los Angeles - Downtown*

14877

54084

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

12408

31342

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

8779

29976

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4203

29482

Los Angeles - El Sereno

15880

37983

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1685

29499

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3357

33006

Los Angeles - Encino

13871

30707

Los Angeles - Exposition

1185

35628

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

16818

37442

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1145

31806

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3485

39961

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

21759

45862

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

10120

32021

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

3784

35154

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

19839

34093

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

9558

44445

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4354

25553

Los Angeles - Harbor City

8644

29735

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

14553

33378

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

576

23910

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

5844

32404

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

16979

44758

Los Angeles - Highland Park

15946

32952

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5020

36193

Los Angeles - Hollywood

19884

29132

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7026

23870

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

10869

38082

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

2958

36641

Los Angeles - Koreatown

15232

29466

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1535

33670

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

14831

35140

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

5444

41453

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5243

34414

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

11968

36715

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

2837

35352

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8189

28892

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1343

42866

Los Angeles - Longwood

1611

37430

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

5262

24352

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

2926

34278

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

733

23464

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

9898

23305

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

894

20505

Los Angeles - Melrose

24294

31268

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4320

28743

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

4532

25199

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

11025

45701

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

7765

32160

Los Angeles - North Hills

23509

38179

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

55154

36424

Los Angeles - Northridge

23429

33567

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

4576

21493

Los Angeles - Pacoima

36519

47440

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

854

22205

Los Angeles - Palms

10923

24895

Los Angeles - Panorama City

31307

41604

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

2938

21635

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

15499

37042

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

542

16959

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3123

28528

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

9644

27099

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2037

31052

Los Angeles - Regent Square

810

29137

Los Angeles - Reseda

29507

38512

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1682

36281

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1125

26608

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

24132

30923

Los Angeles - Shadow Hills

1182

26610

Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks

25114

28783

Los Angeles - Silverlake

12452

28247

Los Angeles - South Carthay

2884

27220

Los Angeles - South Park

16408

43223

Los Angeles - St Elmo Village

1775

38722

Los Angeles - Studio City

6376

28414

Los Angeles - Sun Valley

21749

41440

Los Angeles - Sunland

6318

30958

Los Angeles - Sycamore Square

170

26275

Los Angeles - Sylmar*

39357

47765

Los Angeles - Tarzana

9649

31251

Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry

12852

32552

Los Angeles - Thai Town

2661

27128

Los Angeles - Toluca Lake

2322

26677

Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace

427

32695

Los Angeles - Toluca Woods

471

25350

Los Angeles - Tujunga

8248

29658

Los Angeles - University Hills

865

25226

Los Angeles - University Park

10855

39536

Los Angeles - Valley Glen

10391

34618

Los Angeles - Valley Village

7663

30999

Los Angeles - Van Nuys*

35078

37640

Los Angeles - Venice

8463

24976

Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls

7030

40872

Los Angeles - Vermont Square

3557

46454

Los Angeles - Vermont Vista

17407

42264

Los Angeles - Vernon Central

23887

45938

Los Angeles - Victoria Park

2654

31599

Los Angeles - View Heights

947

25636

Los Angeles - Watts

18056

42311

Los Angeles - Wellington Square

1685

34283

Los Angeles - West Adams

10177

36833

Los Angeles - West Hills

11371

28045

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles

10351

27503

Los Angeles - West Vernon

23178

43207

Los Angeles - Westchester

12241

23721

Los Angeles - Westlake

19458

32782

Los Angeles - Westwood

14842

27430

Los Angeles - Wholesale District*

19371

53616

Los Angeles - Wilmington

22083

39094

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center

15382

30660

Los Angeles - Winnetka

18489

35703

Los Angeles - Woodland Hills

18885

27750

Unincorporated - Acton

1826

22908

Unincorporated - Agua Dulce

921

22150

Unincorporated - Altadena

10530

24140

Unincorporated - Anaverde

376

24934

Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest

97

7791

Unincorporated - Arcadia

1989

24922

Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont

16405

38653

Unincorporated - Athens Village

2652

54156

Unincorporated - Avocado Heights

2615

38598

Unincorporated - Azusa

5755

36143

Unincorporated - Bassett

5619

37923

Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon

190

17707

Unincorporated - Bradbury

98

90741

Unincorporated - Canyon Country

3300

42702

Unincorporated - Castaic*

9091

33434

Unincorporated - Cerritos

176

29983

Unincorporated - Charter Oak

2

10000

Unincorporated - Claremont

120

17094

Unincorporated - Covina

5820

34604

Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)

4459

33924

Unincorporated - Del Aire

1135

25837

Unincorporated - Del Rey

127

39937

Unincorporated - Del Sur

652

26998

Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands

874

35058

Unincorporated - Duarte

1857

41938

Unincorporated - East Covina

88

26748

Unincorporated - East La Mirada

1499

28326

Unincorporated - East Lancaster

48

42105

Unincorporated - East Los Angeles

55367

44198

Unincorporated - East Pasadena

365

5700

Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez

5741

37503

Unincorporated - East Whittier

1337

25198

Unincorporated - El Camino Village

2254

25640

Unincorporated - El Monte

58

40000

Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake

249

14991

Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone

29282

45255

Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon

1

8333

Unincorporated - Glendora

190

28788

Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights

15108

27014

Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway

5

500000

Unincorporated - Hawthorne

715

28441

Unincorporated - Hi Vista

155

14117

Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons

594

42068

Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose

3981

20105

Unincorporated - La Habra Heights

18

2663

Unincorporated - La Rambla

728

35084

Unincorporated - La Verne*

609

29853

Unincorporated - Ladera Heights

1727

24424

Unincorporated - Lake Hughes

191

28593

Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles

3871

29791

Unincorporated - Lake Manor

423

25746

Unincorporated - Lakewood

1

877

Unincorporated - Lennox

7310

32428

Unincorporated - Leona Valley

303

17304

Unincorporated - Littlerock

1355

33698

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills

314

24210

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom

1216

34071

Unincorporated - Llano

110

12543

Unincorporated - Marina del Rey

2170

23058

Unincorporated - Miracle Mile

0

0

Unincorporated - Monrovia

1131

29142

Unincorporated - Newhall

100

45455

Unincorporated - North Lancaster

374

31219

Unincorporated - North Whittier

2870

34330

Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel

5518

22957

Unincorporated - Padua Hills

35

16279

Unincorporated - Palmdale

239

28385

Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula

104

16747

Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano

391

19990

Unincorporated - Pellissier Village

352

56866

Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon

22

4783

Unincorporated - Pomona

163

8411

Unincorporated - Quartz Hill

3714

28777

Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez

1108

41638

Unincorporated - Roosevelt

255

27390

Unincorporated - Rosewood

488

37947

Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena

491

41157

Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez

1254

37310

Unincorporated - Rowland Heights

11626

22786

Unincorporated - San Clemente Island

0

0

Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

42

4895

Unincorporated - San Jose Hills

7376

36477

Unincorporated - San Pasqual

83

4079

Unincorporated - Sand Canyon

57

18506

Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island

753

282022

Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*

3580

19226

Unincorporated - Saugus

404

260645

Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country

106

29775

Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley

108

23736

Unincorporated - South El Monte

714

39777

Unincorporated - South San Gabriel

2667

30142

Unincorporated - South Whittier

20162

34045

Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley

227

29065

Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch

5408

25794

Unincorporated - Sun Village

2067

34245

Unincorporated - Sunrise Village

492

37963

Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain

397

23945

Unincorporated - Val Verde

998

30160

Unincorporated - Valencia

862

28060

Unincorporated - Valinda

8864

37927

Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills

3296

28328

Unincorporated - Walnut Park

7087

43901

Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley

166

10986

Unincorporated - West Carson

7213

32659

Unincorporated - West Chatsworth

4

33333

Unincorporated - West LA

714

75000

Unincorporated - West Puente Valley

3820

38841

Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez

453

33333

Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos

9868

36650

Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills

226

17385

Unincorporated - Westhills

176

20977

Unincorporated - White Fence Farms

863

23432

Unincorporated - Whittier

907

23969

Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows

69

575000

Unincorporated - Willowbrook

15682

44917

Unincorporated - Wiseburn

1748

29003

?- Under Investigation

80841

?

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

?

?

?


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