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*As Emergency Orders End, Lifesaving COVID-19 Tools Remain Readily Accessible Throughout Los Angeles County *

With recent decisions to end federal, state and local emergency orders related to COVID-19, Los Angeles County residents are reminded to continue taking sensible steps to protect themselves and others against severe illness and help keep hospitalization and death rates low.

During this new phase, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is committed to ensuring easy access to free lifesaving preventative services, including testing, vaccinations and boosters, and treatment.

One of the most effective ways to prevent severe illness is to get the updated bivalent booster, which has been shown to offer boosted individuals increased protection against hospitalizations and deaths when compared to individuals who were vaccinated but had not received the updated booster.

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For the 30-day period ending Feb. 14, vaccinated people in Los Angeles County who had not received the bivalent booster, formulated to protect against Omicron strains, were 1.5 times more likely to be hospitalized compared to people who has received the updated bivalent booster. When compared to those who had received the bivalent booster, unvaccinated people were five times more likely to be hospitalized.

When looking at COVID-19 deaths based on vaccination status, for the 30-day period ending Feb. 7, unvaccinated Los Angeles County residents were over six times more likely to die compared to people who had received the bivalent booster. People who had been vaccinated against COVID-19, yet not received the updated bivalent booster, were more than 1.5 times more likely to die from a COVID-19 infection than those who were boosted.

To keep the community in the Low COVID-19 Level, residents, workers and businesses are asked to continue to take sensible steps to protect themselves and those most vulnerable. This includes staying up-to-date on vaccines and boosters, testing before gatherings, seeking therapeutics, and staying home when sick. LA County residents who have not had a COVID-19 booster since August 2022 or earlier, should consider getting up-to-date as soon as possible, especially those who may be at higher risk.

Find a location to get boosted at VaccinateLACounty.com, VacunateLosAngeles.com (en español). Telehealth services to connect residents to COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters and medication may be accessed by calling 833-540-0473, 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; 7 days a week.

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*Getting COVID-19 Medication is as Easy as 1, 2, 3!*

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*Long COVID: Talking to Your Doctor About Your Symptoms*

Many at-home COVID-19 tests remain effective for as much as up to one year after their original expiration dates. This has led to the Food and Drug Administration extending the expiration dates for many tests.

However, people experiencing post-COVID conditions can seek care from a healthcare provider to come up with a personal medical management plan that can help improve their symptoms and quality of life. 

Taking a few steps to prepare for your meeting with a healthcare provider can make all the difference in getting the proper medical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.


* *Prepare a list of your current and past healthcare providers* and your current and past medical conditions, especially if you are seeing a new healthcare provider.
* *Write down your history. *Summarize your experience with COVID-19 and post-COVID conditions. For example, write down a list of the symptoms you think started after your COVID-19 infection; a list of prior treatments and diagnostic tests related to your post-COVID symptoms; what make your symptoms worse; how the symptoms affect your activities including challenges that affect daily living, working, schooling; how often your symptoms occur.
* *Prepare a list of medications and supplements* you are taking. Most healthcare providers will ask you to provide this information at each appointment. Bringing your list with you will help keep track.
* *Ask and answer questions, *starting with the most important ones. Don’t hesitate to ask your provider to clarify the answers if they are not clear to you. When answering your provider’s questions, explain how you feel. Be straightforward, and don’t be embarrassed to talk about anything.
* *Make sure you understand the next steps*. Bring pencil and paper to write down instructions or use your hand-held device for notes. Repeat back what the provider has told you to check for understanding. (For example, you might ask: “So, I should go to the lab next week with this paperwork to get my blood drawn?”).
* *Ask for an appointment summary.* You can also ask the provider to write down any instructions, medication names, etc., for you. If there are changes to your treatment plan, make sure you understand what to do. For new medication, ask why it is being given and what you should expect by taking this new medication.

More appointment tips from the CDC can be found here [ [link removed] ].

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Additional Resources

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has developed a wide array of documents, guidance documents, and resources for the workers, businesses, partners, and the general public on a variety of topics related to COVID-19, including:

*For the Public:*


* Vaccines [ [link removed] ], including in-home vaccination [ [link removed] ]     
* Masks [ [link removed] ]
* Travel [ [link removed] ]
* Reducing risk [ [link removed] ]
* Testing [ [link removed] ]
* What to do if sick [ [link removed] ] or exposed [ [link removed] ]
* Treatment [ [link removed] ]
* Workers’ rights [ [link removed] ]

*For Businesses:*


* Best practices [ [link removed] ]
* COVID-19 in the workplace [ [link removed] ]
* Request a mobile vaccination clinic [ [link removed] ]
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It is recommended you follow @lapublichealth on Facebook [ [link removed] ], Twitter [ [link removed] ] or Instagram [ [link removed] ] the latest updates about Los Angeles County.

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


* Los Angeles County Department of Public Health [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
* California Department of Public Health [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [link removed]- ncov/index.html [ [link removed] ] Spanish [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
* World Health Organization [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
* LA County residents can also call 2-1-1

facebook [ [link removed] ]twitter [ [link removed] ]instagram [ [link removed] ]youtube [ [link removed] ]

The Department of Public Health is committed to promoting health equity and ensuring optimal health and well-being for all 10 million residents of Los Angeles County.

Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health comprises nearly 4,500 employees and has an annual budget of $1.2 billion. To learn more about Los Angeles County Public Health, please visit www.publichealth .lacounty.gov [ [link removed] ].

 

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