news release DPH

For Immediate Release:

December 16, 2022

As COVID-19 Deaths, Hospitalizations Surpass December 2021 Levels, Public Health Officials Ask Residents to Help Limit Community Transmission

?3,257 New Positive Cases and 20 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

As deaths and hospitalizations continue to rise in Los Angeles County, surpassing numbers seen at this time last year, Public Health officials are asking residents to play an important role in limiting the spread of COVID-19 during the holiday season by updating their vaccines, masking indoors, testing before gatherings, and staying home when sick.

This week, Los Angeles County remains in the High Community Level based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designation, despite a decrease in reported cases. There was an average of nearly 2,920 cases reported per day, a nearly 20% decrease from the 7-day average of 3,639 cases reported per day last week.

Los Angeles County, however, witnessed a troubling doubling in the reported 7-day average of deaths per day from 2 weeks ago, currently to 16 this week, including the county?s 20th confirmed pediatric death. This milestone is a somber reminder of the nearly 34,400 precious lives lost in Los Angeles County since the pandemic began.

Although the number of reported COVID-19 cases declined slightly in Los Angeles County, they remain more than 120% higher than numbers observed one month ago and wastewater data reaffirms that transmission of COVID is currently high.? For the most recent week reported, the viral concentration of SARS-CoV-2 observed in wastewater was higher than it was during the peak concentration seen in July during our 2022 summer surge.?

Over the past seven days, the average number of daily COVID-positive patients in Los Angeles County hospitals is 1,252, very slightly elevated from last week when the average number of COVID-positive patients per day was 1,245. Based on data collected from 90 hospitals that are polled daily by the LA County Emergency Medical Services Agency, as of Dec. 12, there were 242 available adult beds, including ward and ICU beds. The average number of available beds so far in December is the lowest number reported in the past four years. Contributing factors include high circulating rates of respiratory illnesses and less available staff.

To minimize the transmission and impact of illness during the holidays, residents should think ahead about steps they can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the flu and other respiratory viruses. Importantly, being up to date on vaccines and the new bivalent booster provides essential protection against severe illness associated with COVID and flu.

Of the nearly 7.5 million county residents eligible for the bivalent booster, just 1.35 million residents have received it.? While the number remains low, more people are getting the new booster ? up to 18% this week compared to 16% on Nov. 27.

The new specially formulated bivalent booster for children 6 months through age 4 is now available in Los Angeles County. Previously, this booster was authorized only for children ages 5 and older. To maximize protection against COVID-19, dosing and eligibility for this new pediatric booster is dependent on the primary series the child receives.

If you have questions about vaccinating your child, you can call the Department of Public Health Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-540-0473 open daily 8 am to 8:30 pm.? Many vaccine sites received the new bivalent vaccines for young children this week.? At the Public Health community sites, clinics, and mobile vaccine teams, staff are trained and have begun administering these new vaccines.??

To find a vaccine site, visit ph.lacounty.gov/howtogetvaccinated or residents can reach out to their provider. As a note, many general pharmacies do not vaccinate children under three years old so please check the Public Health website or contact your provider to find a site able to vaccinate young children.??

In addition to getting the bivalent booster and seasonal flu vaccine, it is important this holiday season to continue to have plenty of well-fitting, high-filtration masks on hand, preferably N95s, KN95s, or KF94s. When choosing activities or planning an event, it also makes sense to look for outdoor options. If it doesn?t work to be outside, open windows and doors to increase ventilation inside.?

It?s also crucial to use COVID tests before gatherings. For more information on types of tests, where to get them, and how to interpret them go to ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests. Also, the federal government reopened its free COVID test program; each household can get four free tests shipped to their home. Tests can be ordered at COVIDtests.gov and shipping will begin the week of Dec. 19.?

Finally, it?s important for family and friends to stay home when sick to prevent others from getting ill. If you test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms, the therapeutics Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are both prescription antivirals that can be taken at home. Both should be started within 5 days of symptom onset. Contact your provider if you have a fever, coughing and sneezing, unusual fatigue, muscle aches, or other symptoms. If you do not have a provider, you can call the Public Health call center at 1-833-540-0473 to get answers to your questions and access free telehealth services.??

?I extend my condolences to the all of the families that have been impacted by loss due to COVID,? said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. ?Navigating the pandemic has been made much easier with the new tools at hand and the data we can look at to better understand risk. High numbers no longer mean shutting down events or gathering over Zoom. We have the strategies, information, and resources to celebrate in-person with friends and family in a safe way.? I hope that over the next few weeks, everyone can use this information to keep each other protected. Simple efforts can lead to big returns, and this works best when people come together and act collectively. We all have a role to play to reduce COVID-19 transmission and I appreciate the inspiring efforts I have witnessed in the community. Your actions have personal impact, and also impact the people around you.?

Today, Public Health reported 20 additional deaths and 3,257 new positive cases. Of the 20 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 18-29, 10 people were between the ages of 65-79, and nine people were aged 80 years or older.? Of the 20 newly reported deaths, 18 had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 34,410.

Public Health has reported a total of 3,598,453 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today?s positivity rate is 10.9%. There are 1,261 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,784,124 individuals, with 25% 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:

?

Cases through 12:00pm 12/15/2022

? ?

?

Total Cases

?

Laboratory Confirmed Cases

3,598,453

?

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

3,403,491

?

-- Long Beach

156,858

?

-- Pasadena

38,104

?

Deaths

34,410

?

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

32,631

?

-- Long Beach

1,342

?

-- Pasadena

437

?

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

?

?

- 0 to 4

107,187

?

- 5 to 11

278,647

?

- 12 to 17

273,239

?

- 18 to 29

737,197

?

- 30 to 49

1,094,047

?

- 50 to 64

584,589

?

- 65 to 79

243,793

?

-? over 80

82,382

?

-? Under Investigation

2,410

?

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

?

?

-? Female

1,751,411

?

-? Male

1,562,871

?

-? Other

1,690

?

-? Under Investigation

87,519

?

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

6,485

?

-? Asian

249,283

?

-? Black

176,664

?

-? Hispanic/Latino

1,464,214

?

-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

17,193

?

-? White

467,508

?

-? Other

388,375

?

-? Under Investigation

633,769

?

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

?

?

-? Hospitalized (Ever)

163,763

?

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

?

?

-? American Indian/Alaska Native

78

?

-? Asian

4,171

?

-? Black

3,052

?

-? Hispanic/Latino

16,296

?

-? Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

113

?

-? White

8,468

?

-? Other

372

?

-? Under Investigation

81

?

CITY / COMMUNITY**

Cases

Case Rate

City of Agoura Hills

6188

29632

City of Alhambra

23983

27654

City of Arcadia

12577

21777

City of Artesia

5688

33867

City of Avalon

66

1706

City of Azusa

16988

33949

City of Baldwin Park

28566

37210

City of Bell

16371

45059

City of Bell Gardens

16529

38376

City of Bellflower

29288

37677

City of Beverly Hills

11020

31924

City of Bradbury

67

6268

City of Burbank

31118

29033

City of Calabasas

5560

22859

City of Carson

33330

35516

City of Cerritos

12531

25028

City of Claremont

9431

25850

City of Commerce*

5500

42084

City of Compton

39224

39262

City of Covina

18477

37684

City of Cudahy

11826

48573

City of Culver City

11011

27621

City of Diamond Bar

12818

22286

City of Downey

44756

39169

City of Duarte

7025

31909

City of El Monte

41031

34989

City of El Segundo

3891

23180

City of Gardena

21051

34335

City of Glendale

57535

27863

City of Glendora

15252

28906

City of Hawaiian Gardens

4962

33810

City of Hawthorne

28373

31956

City of Hermosa Beach

4533

23045

City of Hidden Hills

379

20053

City of Huntington Park

25865

43482

City of Industry

539

123341

City of Inglewood

36741

32348

City of Irwindale

641

43934

City of La Canada Flintridge

4322

20886

City of La Habra Heights

179

3281

City of La Mirada

13465

27148

City of La Puente

15697

38570

City of La Verne

8914

26783

City of Lakewood

25516

31751

City of Lancaster*

61742

38214

City of Lawndale

10229

30431

City of Lomita

5700

27498

City of Lynwood*

29674

41187

City of Malibu

2790

21526

City of Manhattan Beach

7021

19503

City of Maywood

12458

44415

City of Monrovia

11164

28773

City of Montebello

24311

37765

City of Monterey Park

16530

26549

City of Norwalk

40947

38047

City of Palmdale

64136

40345

City of Palos Verdes Estates

2095

15493

City of Paramount

22475

40117

City of Pico Rivera

26609

41393

City of Pomona

62895

40335

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

7182

16801

City of Redondo Beach

14726

21436

City of Rolling Hills

269

13866

City of Rolling Hills Estates

1435

17688

City of Rosemead

14697

26553

City of San Dimas*

10603

30719

City of San Fernando

12347

50167

City of San Gabriel

10790

26347

City of San Marino

2282

17188

City of Santa Clarita

70239

31865

City of Santa Fe Springs

7701

41935

City of Santa Monica

25279

27345

City of Sierra Madre

2232

20311

City of Signal Hill

3904

33093

City of South El Monte

7941

38023

City of South Gate

45717

46576

City of South Pasadena

6057

23249

City of Temple City

9504

26070

City of Torrance

32470

21753

City of Vernon

352

168421

City of Walnut

7166

23470

City of West Covina

38043

35149

City of West Hollywood

10747

29084

City of Westlake Village

371

4438

City of Whittier

29872

34166

Los Angeles

1469761

36339

Los Angeles - Adams-Normandie

3083

37588

Los Angeles - Alsace

4338

34857

Los Angeles - Angeles National Forest

6

15000

Los Angeles - Angelino Heights

796

31815

Los Angeles - Arleta

16355

47585

Los Angeles - Atwater Village

4754

32415

Los Angeles - Baldwin Hills

9736

31280

Los Angeles - Bel Air

2314

27453

Los Angeles - Beverly Crest

3201

25557

Los Angeles - Beverlywood

3970

30137

Los Angeles - Boyle Heights*

39109

45013

Los Angeles - Brentwood

8124

26245

Los Angeles - Brookside

142

24441

Los Angeles - Cadillac-Corning

2281

32032

Los Angeles - Canoga Park

24581

37650

Los Angeles - Carthay

4124

28713

Los Angeles - Central

16645

42688

Los Angeles - Century City

3546

27720

Los Angeles - Century Palms/Cove

15627

46280

Los Angeles - Chatsworth

12310

33216

Los Angeles - Cheviot Hills

2424

26431

Los Angeles - Chinatown

2688

33512

Los Angeles - Cloverdale/Cochran

5012

34440

Los Angeles - Country Club Park

4684

30911

Los Angeles - Crenshaw District

5067

36640

Los Angeles - Crestview

3738

32882

Los Angeles - Del Rey

8146

27211

Los Angeles - Downtown*

15429

56091

Los Angeles - Eagle Rock

13082

33045

Los Angeles - East Hollywood

9179

31342

Los Angeles - Echo Park

4357

30563

Los Angeles - El Sereno

16449

39344

Los Angeles - Elysian Park

1756

30742

Los Angeles - Elysian Valley

3494

34353

Los Angeles - Encino

14564

32241

Los Angeles - Exposition

1236

37162

Los Angeles - Exposition Park

17386

38707

Los Angeles - Faircrest Heights

1211

33639

Los Angeles - Figueroa Park Square

3625

41566

Los Angeles - Florence-Firestone

22247

46890

Los Angeles - Glassell Park

10568

33439

Los Angeles - Gramercy Place

3966

36845

Los Angeles - Granada Hills

20728

35621

Los Angeles - Green Meadows

9804

45589

Los Angeles - Hancock Park

4528

26574

Los Angeles - Harbor City

9018

31022

Los Angeles - Harbor Gateway

15153

34755

Los Angeles - Harbor Pines

606

25156

Los Angeles - Harvard Heights

6017

33363

Los Angeles - Harvard Park

17426

45936

Los Angeles - Highland Park

16630

34366

Los Angeles - Historic Filipinotown

5180

37347

Los Angeles - Hollywood

20790

30460

Los Angeles - Hollywood Hills

7335

24920

Los Angeles - Hyde Park

11360

39802

Los Angeles - Jefferson Park

3060

37904

Los Angeles - Koreatown

15777

30521

Los Angeles - Lafayette Square

1577

34591

Los Angeles - Lake Balboa

15658

37099

Los Angeles - Lakeview Terrace

5649

43014

Los Angeles - Leimert Park

5471

35911

Los Angeles - Lincoln Heights

12374

37961

Los Angeles - Little Armenia

2962

36910

Los Angeles - Little Bangladesh

8504

30004

Los Angeles - Little Tokyo

1438

45898

Los Angeles - Longwood

1733

40265

Los Angeles - Los Feliz

5544

25657

Los Angeles - Manchester Square

3095

36258

Los Angeles - Mandeville Canyon

761

24360

Los Angeles - Mar Vista

10385

24452

Los Angeles - Marina Peninsula

946

21697

Los Angeles - Melrose

25389

32677

Los Angeles - Mid-city

4492

29887

Los Angeles - Miracle Mile

4755

26439

Los Angeles - Mission Hills

11472

47554

Los Angeles - Mt. Washington

8073

33435

Los Angeles - North Hills

24382

39597

Los Angeles - North Hollywood

57242

37803

Los Angeles - Northridge

24600

35245

Los Angeles - Pacific Palisades

4801

22549

Los Angeles - Pacoima

37698

48972

Los Angeles - Palisades Highlands

889

23115

Los Angeles - Palms

11508

26228

Los Angeles - Panorama City

32521

43217

Los Angeles - Park La Brea

3075

22644

Los Angeles - Pico-Union

16038

38330

Los Angeles - Playa Del Rey

572

17897

Los Angeles - Playa Vista

3258

29762

Los Angeles - Porter Ranch

10105

28394

Los Angeles - Rancho Park

2154

32835

Los Angeles - Regent Square

847

30468

Los Angeles - Reseda

30892

40320

Los Angeles - Reseda Ranch

1735

37425

Los Angeles - Reynier Village

1187

28075

Los Angeles - San Pedro*

25081

32139

Los Angeles - Shadow Hills

1233

27758

Los Angeles - Sherman Oaks

26516

30389

Los Angeles - Silverlake

13083

29678

Los Angeles - South Carthay

3023

28532

Los Angeles - South Park

16757

44143

Los Angeles - St Elmo Village

1858

40532

Los Angeles - Studio City

6773

30183

Los Angeles - Sun Valley

22489

42850

Los Angeles - Sunland

6634

32507

Los Angeles - Sycamore Square

179

27666

Los Angeles - Sylmar*

40740

49443

Los Angeles - Tarzana

10101

32715

Los Angeles - Temple-Beaudry

13292

33666

Los Angeles - Thai Town

2771

28250

Los Angeles - Toluca Lake

2457

28228

Los Angeles - Toluca Terrace

459

35145

Los Angeles - Toluca Woods

491

26426

Los Angeles - Tujunga

8666

31161

Los Angeles - University Hills

898

26188

Los Angeles - University Park

11191

40760

Los Angeles - Valley Glen

10793

35957

Los Angeles - Valley Village

8051

32569

Los Angeles - Van Nuys*

36381

39038

Los Angeles - Venice

8824

26041

Los Angeles - Vermont Knolls

7272

42279

Los Angeles - Vermont Square

3677

48021

Los Angeles - Vermont Vista

17853

43347

Los Angeles - Vernon Central

24358

46844

Los Angeles - Victoria Park

2764

32909

Los Angeles - View Heights

998

27017

Los Angeles - Watts

18538

43441

Los Angeles - Wellington Square

1756

35727

Los Angeles - West Adams

10606

38386

Los Angeles - West Hills

11896

29340

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles

10874

28893

Los Angeles - West Vernon

23810

44385

Los Angeles - Westchester

12862

24925

Los Angeles - Westlake

20203

34038

Los Angeles - Westwood

15783

29169

Los Angeles - Wholesale District*

20544

56863

Los Angeles - Wilmington

22677

40146

Los Angeles - Wilshire Center

15924

31740

Los Angeles - Winnetka

19222

37118

Los Angeles - Woodland Hills

19835

29146

Unincorporated - Acton

1925

24150

Unincorporated - Agua Dulce

958

23040

Unincorporated - Altadena

11087

25417

Unincorporated - Anaverde

385

25531

Unincorporated - Angeles National Forest

101

8112

Unincorporated - Arcadia

2101

26325

Unincorporated - Athens-Westmont

17016

40092

Unincorporated - Athens Village

2725

55646

Unincorporated - Avocado Heights

2697

39808

Unincorporated - Azusa

5937

37286

Unincorporated - Bassett

5843

39434

Unincorporated - Bouquet Canyon

202

18826

Unincorporated - Bradbury

115

106481

Unincorporated - Canyon Country

3453

44682

Unincorporated - Castaic*

9410

34607

Unincorporated - Cerritos

183

31175

Unincorporated - Charter Oak

2

10000

Unincorporated - Claremont

147

20940

Unincorporated - Covina

6030

35852

Unincorporated - Covina (Charter Oak)

4638

35286

Unincorporated - Del Aire

1190

27089

Unincorporated - Del Rey

134

42138

Unincorporated - Del Sur

688

28489

Unincorporated - Desert View Highlands

903

36221

Unincorporated - Duarte

1929

43564

Unincorporated - East Covina

92

27964

Unincorporated - East La Mirada

1573

29724

Unincorporated - East Lancaster

51

44737

Unincorporated - East Los Angeles

56986

45491

Unincorporated - East Pasadena

372

5810

Unincorporated - East Rancho Dominguez

5915

38640

Unincorporated - East Whittier

1386

26121

Unincorporated - El Camino Village

2343

26652

Unincorporated - El Monte

59

40690

Unincorporated - Elizabeth Lake

265

15954

Unincorporated - Florence-Firestone

29935

46264

Unincorporated - Franklin Canyon

1

8333

Unincorporated - Glendora

193

29242

Unincorporated - Hacienda Heights

15868

28373

Unincorporated - Harbor Gateway

5

500000

Unincorporated - Hawthorne

729

28998

Unincorporated - Hi Vista

169

15392

Unincorporated - Kagel/Lopez Canyons

614

43484

Unincorporated - La Crescenta-Montrose

4238

21403

Unincorporated - La Habra Heights

18

2663

Unincorporated - La Rambla

762

36723

Unincorporated - La Verne*

633

31029

Unincorporated - Ladera Heights

1838

25993

Unincorporated - Lake Hughes

199

29790

Unincorporated - Lake Los Angeles

3992

30722

Unincorporated - Lake Manor

451

27450

Unincorporated - Lakewood

1

877

Unincorporated - Lennox

7622

33812

Unincorporated - Leona Valley

308

17590

Unincorporated - Littlerock

1392

34618

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Juniper Hills

320

24672

Unincorporated - Littlerock/Pearblossom

1245

34884

Unincorporated - Llano

113

12885

Unincorporated - Marina del Rey

2282

24248

Unincorporated - Miracle Mile

0

0

Unincorporated - Monrovia

1191

30688

Unincorporated - Newhall

100

45455

Unincorporated - North Lancaster

380

31720

Unincorporated - North Whittier

2976

35598

Unincorporated - Northeast San Gabriel

5836

24280

Unincorporated - Padua Hills

36

16744

Unincorporated - Palmdale

253

30048

Unincorporated - Palos Verdes Peninsula

116

18680

Unincorporated - Pearblossom/Llano

407

20808

Unincorporated - Pellissier Village

359

57997

Unincorporated - Placerita Canyon

23

5000

Unincorporated - Pomona

168

8669

Unincorporated - Quartz Hill

3855

29870

Unincorporated - Rancho Dominguez

1149

43179

Unincorporated - Roosevelt

264

28357

Unincorporated - Rosewood

510

39658

Unincorporated - Rosewood/East Gardena

510

42749

Unincorporated - Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez

1287

38292

Unincorporated - Rowland Heights

12230

23970

Unincorporated - San Clemente Island

0

0

Unincorporated - San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

43

5012

Unincorporated - San Jose Hills

7605

37609

Unincorporated - San Pasqual

87

4275

Unincorporated - Sand Canyon

59

19156

Unincorporated - Santa Catalina Island

773

289513

Unincorporated - Santa Monica Mountains*

3734

20053

Unincorporated - Saugus

422

272258

Unincorporated - Saugus/Canyon Country

123

34551

Unincorporated - South Antelope Valley

110

24176

Unincorporated - South El Monte

740

41226

Unincorporated - South San Gabriel

2786

31487

Unincorporated - South Whittier

20840

35190

Unincorporated - Southeast Antelope Valley

235

30090

Unincorporated - Stevenson Ranch

5693

27153

Unincorporated - Sun Village

2129

35272

Unincorporated - Sunrise Village

518

39969

Unincorporated - Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain

416

25090

Unincorporated - Val Verde

1042

31490

Unincorporated - Valencia

906

29492

Unincorporated - Valinda

9216

39433

Unincorporated - View Park/Windsor Hills

3485

29953

Unincorporated - Walnut Park

7262

44985

Unincorporated - West Antelope Valley

173

11449

Unincorporated - West Carson

7652

34646

Unincorporated - West Chatsworth

4

33333

Unincorporated - West LA

793

83298

Unincorporated - West Puente Valley

3976

40427

Unincorporated - West Rancho Dominguez

475

34952

Unincorporated - West Whittier/Los Nietos

10250

38069

Unincorporated - Westfield/Academy Hills

241

18538

Unincorporated - Westhills

191

22765

Unincorporated - White Fence Farms

901

24464

Unincorporated - Whittier

946

25000

Unincorporated - Whittier Narrows

69

575000

Unincorporated - Willowbrook

16153

46266

Unincorporated - Wiseburn

1811

30048

?- Under Investigation

83950

?

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

?

** --These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation.

?

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