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COVID-19 Update from LA County Public Health 1.21.2022

By

SPA 3 Regional Health Office

COVID-19 Weekly Update

January 21, 2022

COVID-19 Cases Increase by Nearly 10 Times in One Month

Over 400,000 cases have been reported in LA County since January 1. This week, LA County marked the grim milestone of losing more than 28,000 residents to COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Public Health urges residents to take steps to stay safe during the surge by:

  • Getting vaccinated and boosted if they have not done so yet, as unvaccinated people are 2 – 4 times more likely to get infected than those fully vaccinated
  • Upgrading their masks to an N95, KN95, KF94, or a surgical mask, all of which do a better job at blocking virus particles than cloth masks
  • Limiting non-essential activities where people are unmasked and crowded together, especially if indoors, until transmission is lower

Residents can visit covid19.lacounty.gov to find a convenient testing location near you.

How to Get Free COVID-19 Tests

Here are five ways to help people get free COVID-19 Test Kits:

  1. Pick up a testing kit at 13 testing sites across LA County. “Pick-Up Test Kits” will be available without an appointment and until daily supplies are exhausted. The “Pick-Up Testing Kits” will test for both COVID-19 and Influenza (A and B), the same as all LA County operated testing locations.
  1. Order a Free Package to Your Home. Visit the USPS website to order a free COVID-19 test package with 4 free tests to your home or to help others order their free tests.
  1. Use Your Medicaid, CHIP or Private Health Insurance Coverage. Read a statement on the Biden-Harris Administration’s requirement for insurance companies and group plans to cover testing, frequently asked questions, and requirements.
  1. Visit a Community-Based Free Testing Site in Your Community. Find your nearest community-based testing site for COVID-19.
  1. Enroll Your Facility into Operation Expanded Testing Today. OpET provides no-cost testing to childcare centers, K-12 schools, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), under-resourced communities, and congregate settings, such as homeless shelters, domestic violence and abuse shelters, non-federal correctional facilities, and other qualified sites.

COVID-19 Hospitalizations Rising

The proportion of ventilated patients with COVID-19 has nearly tripled since the beginning of December.

With hospitalizations rising and many emergency departments requesting ambulance diversions at some point during the day, Public Health urges all residents to help preserve the existing capacity of LA County hospitals by not going to the emergency departments for COVID-19 testing or mild illness.

For those who are experiencing mild illness, please contact your primary care provider or schedule a visit at a clinic. This will ensure that those needing emergency care can get services at the closest emergency department or get a quick response when they call 911.

Vaccination and booster doses are still very powerful ways to reduce your risk of infection or transmission, as well as hospitalization and death. To find locations to get a COVID-19 vaccine, click here or call the DPH Vaccine Call Center 833-540-0473 open daily 8am to 8:30pm. Vaccines are free. Immigration status and insurance are not required.

Update Your Mask For Better Protection

Click here for more information on mask wearing.

This week, the new Health Officer Order went into effect. It requires employers to provide and require employees to wear a well-fitting medical grade mask, surgical mask, or higher-level NIOSH-approved respirator, such as an N95, at all times while indoors at the worksite or facility.

You can book your free supply for your workplace at www.ppeunite.org/sign-up.

With schools back in session, in order to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, upgraded masks are also required for school staff and strongly recommended for students. 

COVID-19 Resources

LA Public Health Podcast: Variants, Vaccines, and Surges with Dr. Muntu Davis

In this new podcase episode, Dr. Muntu Davis explains variants and how COVID-19 vaccines and testing can help keep us protected from surges.

Here are some helpful links mentioned during this episode:

To listen to the podcast, click here.

COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall: Save the Date

Join us on Wednesday, January 26 at 6 PM to learn more about the Omicron variant, COVID-19 boosters, and keeping schools safe.

Watch on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube @lapublichealth

To submit questions, click here.

Register Now To Be A Parent Ambassador

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is looking for parents who want to make a difference in their community through the Parent Ambassador Program. The program offers parents an opportunity to learn more about COVID-19 variants, how the vaccines work, and ways to encourage others to stay safe to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

  • Receive a gift stipend and certificate
  • Attend a 90-minute presentation
  • Get your questions answered by a local physician
  • Learn how to keep your families safe from COVID-19

Upcoming presentations:

  • Tuesday, 1/25/22 4:30pm – 6:00pm (Spanish)
  • Tuesday, 2/1/22 4:30pm – 6:00pm (Armenian)

To learn more and to register for the program, click here.

A Conversation with Dr. Barbara Ferrer and Dr. Muntu Davis for Community-Based Organizations

Join us on Friday, January 28 at 5PM for a conversation with Dr. Ferrer and Dr. Davis. They will discuss the state of the pandemic, how community partners serve as the backbone of the County response, and ways to continue to build towards a more equitable recovery.

To submit questions, click here.

Click here to watch the live stream.

Together for Wellness: UCLA Research Study

UCLA is conducting a research study about a new website with free online well-being resources to ease stress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants are being asked to review the website for 30 minutes and then fill out a survey in English or Spanish. Those who take part in the study will receive a $25 online gift card for their time.

For those interested in joining the study, please click here.

Need a COVID-19 Vaccination Presentation?

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offers an array of presentations, including the Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines.

If you would like to schedule a presentation for your organization, click here.

Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Also Offering Testing

Morgan Park in Baldwin Park is offering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.  To find out which vaccine you are eligible for, click here.

Visit vaccinatelacounty.com for more information about how to prepare for your appointment and what to do after you have been vaccinated. Many other sites throughout the San Gabriel Valley are offering the vaccine and taking walk-ins.

COVID-19 Testing Sites Near You

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COVID-19 Update from LA County Public Health 1.14.2022

By

SPA 3 Regional Health Office

COVID-19 Weekly Update

January 14, 2022

Los Angeles County continues to experience a winter surge. Daily cases have risen steeply from about 27,000 a day on New Year’s Eve to over 43,000 new cases reported earlier this week. Almost one in four people getting tested are infected. The surge is also driving up hospitalizations and affecting health care workers.

While many patients are not hospitalized for COVID-19, there are over 4,000 COVID-positive patients at LA County hospitals. Meanwhile, COVID-19-related deaths have remained stable at an average of 22 reported daily deaths over the past week, as deaths are a lagging indicator and not likely to increase until a few weeks after cases and hospitalizations rise. 

We urge the public to avoid visiting the Emergency Room for COVID-19 testing and minor medical issues, unless emergency medical care is needed.

Click here for developing news on this winter’s COVID-19 surge.

Protecting Ourselves and Others

While the explosive increase in cases indicate very high community transmission, we do have tools to protect ourselves and each other:

  • Vaccination and booster doses are still very powerful ways to reduce your risk of infection or transmission, as well as hospitalization and death. No appointments are necessary – click here to view the locations.
  • Get tested if you are feeling sick, have symptoms, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
  • Wear a well-fitted medical-grade mask or a respirator when you’re in indoor public spaces or crowded outdoor spaces, or near someone you know to be vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infection.
  • Pause non-essential activities where people are unmasked and in close contact with others, and limit your time with others to essential work or school activities whenever possible until the surge subsides.

COVID-19 Testing Kits Available for Pick-Up

LA County launched a new testing program designed to increase and facilitate access to COVID-19 tests for LA County residents unable to obtain appointments.

The Pick-Up Testing Kit program allows residents to pick up a PCR test kit, perform the test and return the completed test to designated sites for processing. Residents will be notified of their test results within 24-48 hours.

Pick-Up Testing Kits are provided at no cost to you if you meet the following criteria:

  • Have symptoms of COVID-19, OR
  • Think you were exposed to COVID-19.

For more information on the Pick-Up Testing Kit Program, click here. 

San Gabriel Valley Locations

Memorial Park North Recreation Center

320 N. Orange Ave.
Azusa, CA 91702
Monday – Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

San Gabriel Valley Airport

4015 Santa Anita Ave.
El Monte, CA 91731
Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wingate Park

735 N. Glendora
Covina, CA 91724
Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Know Your COVID-19 Testing Options

Regular COVID-19 testing is still taking place throughout LA County. With COVID-19 cases surging in LA County, please consider the following options to get tested for COVID-19.

  • Have insurance? Start by contacting your doctor or visiting your local pharmacy.
  • Need a test for work or school? Go through your job or educational facility.
  • Don’t fall into those categories? Get a free County-sponsored test. To find a testing site near you, click here.

Masking

The new Health Officer Order requires employers to provide and require employees to wear a well-fitting medical grade mask, surgical mask, or higher-level NIOSH-approved respirator, such as an N95, at all times while indoors at the worksite or facility. This order takes into effect as soon as possible and no later than January 17, 2022.

Click here for more information on mask wearing.

With schools back in session, in order to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, upgraded masks are also required for school staff and strongly recommended for students. 

COVID-19 Booster Updates

The CDC has expanded recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to now include everyone ages 12 years and older. At this time, only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for teens ages 12 to 17.

Also, the CDC has shortened the interval between primary vaccine series and the booster dose for mRNA vaccines from 6 to 5 months. This means that people who initially received an mRNA vaccine series – two doses of either Moderna or Pfizer – can now receive an mRNA booster shot 5 months after completing their initial series.

COVID-19 Resources

LA Public Health Podcast

The LA County Department of Public Health’s LA Public Health Podcast provides COVID-19 updates & interviews with public health experts, in an effort to continue to keep LA County informed through more content and to continue to achieve & promote health equity for LA & beyond. On our next episode, we’ll take a closer look into COVID-19 vaccines for children age 5-11.

Stay tuned and subscribe to our channel for new episodes every month!

Listen at:

Need a COVID-19 Vaccination Presentation?

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offers an array of presentations, including the Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines.

If you would like to schedule a presentation for your organization, click here.

Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Also Offering Testing

Morgan Park in Baldwin Park is offering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.  To find out which vaccine you are eligible for, click here.

Visit vaccinatelacounty.com for more information about how to prepare for your appointment and what to do after you have been vaccinated. Many other sites throughout the San Gabriel Valley are offering the vaccine and taking walk-ins.

COVID-19 Testing Sites Near You

SPA 3 Resources and Announcements

Pomona Wellness Community offers a place for community members to gather, find resources, or participate in wellness activities. Support includes mental health, substance use, and general health and wellness resources. All activities are FREE and open to the community. Our January program includes:

Fwd: COVID-19 Update from LA County Public Health 1.7.2022

By

SPA 3 Regional Health Office

COVID-19 Weekly Update

January 7, 2022

COVID-19 Cases are Rising

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase rapidly across LA County. 

We are seeing certain age groups driving the current surge. Adults aged 18 to 49 are most likely to get infected and spread COVID-19 to others; adults in this age group comprised about 70% of all the new cases we saw for the week ending December 28. Case rates among 18- to 49-year-olds have also increased the most. These dynamics likely reflect the reality that adults ages 18-49 are intermingling the most.

While the explosive increases in cases indicate very high community transmission, we do have tools to protect ourselves and each other:

  • Vaccination and booster doses are still very powerful ways to reduce your risk of infection or transmission.
  • Testing before gathering will allow you to make smart decisions about whether to gather in person.
  • Wearing a well-fitted medical-grade mask or a respirator when you’re in indoor public spaces or crowded outdoor spaces, or near someone you know to be vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infection, can keep you and others safe.

Click here for developing news on this winter’s COVID-19 surge.

Updated Health Officer Order

The current Health Officer Order has been updated with new quarantine and isolation requirements:

  • Any individual exiting isolation after day 5 is required to have a negative test and be asymptomatic or with improving symptoms and with no fever prior to leaving isolation.
  • Any individual leaving quarantine after day 5 must have a negative test on day 5 and be completely asymptomatic.
  • Asymptomatic adults leaving isolation or quarantine after day 5 are required to wear a medical grade mask (surgical or respirator) when around others both indoors and outdoors for the 5 subsequent days. Children should wear a non-cloth mask of multiple layers of non-woven material with a nose wire, such as a child-sized surgical mask.
  • Unvaccinated close contacts, and those eligible but not yet boosted, must quarantine for the minimum 5 days.

While these amended isolation and quarantine periods apply to the general public, businesses and establishments must continue to comply with Cal/OSHA standards which now align with these changes. In establishments or settings with active outbreaks, DPH may extend quarantine and isolation periods to help control transmission risk. Businesses are also allowed to be more conservative than the agency and continue with their already-established isolation and quarantine periods.

Please click here for updated information about isolation and quarantine requirements.

COVID-19 Testing

Testing is critically important since it helps identify potential sources of transmission before they have contact with high-risk individuals. It is a great tool for ensuring that people are not exposing others.

But testing itself doesn’t protect you from getting infected It just enables you to check your status and make smart choices, and you hope others attending are doing the same.

If you are experiencing cold symptoms, especially headache, fever, or cough, get tested for COVID-19.

To find a testing site near you, click here. 

The at-home COVID-19 testing program has been temporarily paused, and will resume the week of January 10.  A limited number of kits will be available daily.  For more information, and to sign-up for an at-home COVID-19 test kit, click here. 

New Masking Recommendations

The new Health Officer Order requires employersto provide and require employees to wear a well-fitting medical grade mask, surgical mask, or higher-level NIOSH-approved respirator, such as an N95, at all times while indoors at the worksite or facility. This order takes into effect as soon as possible and no later than January 17, 2022.

Click here for more information on mask wearing.

COVID-19 Resources

LA Public Health Podcast

The LA County Department of Public Health’s LA Public Health Podcast provides COVID-19 updates & interviews with public health experts, in an effort to continue to keep LA County informed through more content and to continue to achieve & promote health equity for LA & beyond. On our next episode, we’ll take a closer look into COVID-19 vaccines for children age 5-11.

Stay tuned and subscribe to our channel for new episodes every month!

Listen at:

Need a COVID-19 Vaccination Presentation?

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offers an array of presentations, including the Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines.

If you would like to schedule a presentation for your organization, click here.

SPA 3 Resources and Announcements

Pomona Wellness Community offers a place for community members to gather, find resources, or participate in wellness activities. Support includes mental health, substance use, and general health and wellness resources. All activities are FREE and open to the community. Our January program includes:

Visit our website:  http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/chs/pwc.htm

Download our monthly calendar of programs here

Email:  [email protected]

Free Food Pantries

The L.A. Care Community Resource Centers in El Monte and Pomona will have food pantries onsite with weekly distributions.

El Monte:

Wednesdays, January 12, 15, and 26 from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at 3570 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte, CA 91731. Click here for more information.

Pomona:

Fridays, January 14, 21, and 28 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 696 W. Holt Ave
Pomona, CA 91768.  Click here for more information.

Free Online CPR & First Aid classes

L.A. Care’s Community Resource Center in El Monte is providing FREE online CPR/First Aid classes in January and February in English and Spanish. Participants receive a 2-year American Heart Association CPR and First Aid Certification through their FREE virtual training. This is open to anybody who is 18 and older and would like to participate.

Limited class space is available and pre-registration is required. Participants must have access to a webcam or video phone to participate.

Click here for more information.

Workplace Wellness Essentials

Join the Center for Nonprofit Management for a free wellness-focused Lunch & Learn on Friday, January 21 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Spiritual, physical and mental health are vitally important and we know that stress in the workplace is a very real challenge for professionals and their employers.  Kick off the new year with this special session about the resources available for those living and working in LA County and how you can help your team thrive and grow in 2022.

Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Distracted Teenage Driving Virtual Presentation

LA County DPH Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Program is offering free virtual presentations on distracted teenage driving for schools and community-based organizations working with teens. If you would like additional information or have any questions, please contact Allison Kwan ([email protected]) and Elaine Lai ([email protected]).

Get Your Flu Vaccine

The CDC recommends that anyone 6 months and older be vaccinated for the flu. Protect yourself and your family this flu season by getting vaccinated. To find a flu immunization site near you:

  • Call your doctor, or your local pharmacy
  • Call 2-1-1, the LA County Information Line (you can ask for locations where flu immunizations are LOW COST or FREE)

FREE flu vaccinations and COVID-19 testing are also offered at our Community Outreach Flu Clinics

Winter Shelter Program

The Winter Shelter Program is held annually to protect people experiencing homelessness during Los Angeles’s colder months. Winter Shelters are located all across the County, and will be operating 24 hours a day this year due to COVID 19. 

For more information, visit the website, email [email protected] or call the Winter Shelter Hotline at 1-800-548-6047.

View English and Spanish Winter Shelter Flyers.