COVID in California keeps rising: Wastewater levels worse than last summer
8 months, 1 week ago

COVID in California keeps rising: Wastewater levels worse than last summer

LA Times  

Across the nation, COVID-19’s shadow has become more pronounced lately, with the usual seasonal uptick in travel and socialization spawning a fresh spate of infections. Coronavirus levels in California’s wastewater now exceed last summer’s peak, an indication of the rapid spread of the super-contagious new FLiRT strains. For the week that ended July 14, L.A. County reported that 2.8% of all emergency room visits were COVID-related — up from 1.8% for the comparable period a month earlier, but below last summer’s peak of 5.1%. People who don’t have health insurance in L.A. County can also get free COVID testing at the county’s public health center nurse-only clinics and multi-service vaccination sites. For people who haven’t received an updated COVID vaccine within the last year, “you should think about getting it, especially if you’re older and immune-compromised,” said UC San Francisco infectious diseases expert Dr. Peter Chin-Hong.

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History of this topic

Early signs California’s COVID surge is peaking: ‘It’s not gone away. It’s just lower’
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Early signs California’s COVID surge is peaking: ‘It’s not gone away. It’s just lower’

LA Times  

Dr. Gaurav Shinde gives Giti Noroozi, 85, her vaccinations for COVID and flu at the Walgreens pharmacy in Torrance on Thursday. But for the week ending Aug. 31, the most recent data available, California’s coronavirus sewage levels fell back to “high,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We’re seeing, I would say, somewhat of a cresting …

This was a ‘prime weekend’ for COVID spread in California. Why experts see a ‘real risk’ ahead
6 months, 3 weeks ago

This was a ‘prime weekend’ for COVID spread in California. Why experts see a ‘real risk’ ahead

LA Times  

With COVID remaining at stubbornly high levels in California, some doctors are warning that transmission could again accelerate following the busy Labor Day holiday weekend — potentially prolonging a summer wave that has already proved more intense and enduring than some experts had anticipated. And with many California schoolchildren having already returned to school, “this is, unfortunately, a prime weekend …

This is now California’s worst summer COVID wave in years. Here’s why
7 months, 2 weeks ago

This is now California’s worst summer COVID wave in years. Here’s why

LA Times  

California’s strongest summer COVID wave in years is still surging, and an unusual midsummer mutation may be partly to blame. “COVID is extraordinarily common now,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s 16-hospital healthcare system. “We are certainly much higher than we were last summer.” Anecdotally, some infected people report being “pretty darn …

California COVID surge is surprisingly stronger, longer-lasting than experts had expected
7 months, 3 weeks ago

California COVID surge is surprisingly stronger, longer-lasting than experts had expected

LA Times  

An individual sits with a mask on at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach on July 28. “We are seeing a lot of outpatient cases — it’s been a much higher uptick over the last week, actually,” Hudson said Friday. “I’ve heard so many stories in the last few weeks of people who didn’t get any until this point, …

COVID surging in California. Is it time to bring back masks, hand sanitizer? What experts say
7 months, 4 weeks ago

COVID surging in California. Is it time to bring back masks, hand sanitizer? What experts say

LA Times  

People gather outside to listen to the Miskey Mountain Boys at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach on July 28. In Los Angeles County, coronavirus levels in wastewater are at 44% of last winter’s peak for the 10-day period that ended July 20. “Given the increased transmission of new strains of COVID-19, residents should continue taking common-sense precautions to …

COVID-19 cases rising again in California
7 months, 4 weeks ago

COVID-19 cases rising again in California

China Daily  

California is experiencing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, with recent data indicating a sharp increase in the levels of coronavirus in wastewater across the state. For the seven-day period ending July 20, the wastewater levels were at 93 percent of the peak in the summer of 2022 and have already surpassed last summer's peak. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious …

California's big COVID spike isn't expected to ease anytime soon
7 months, 4 weeks ago

California's big COVID spike isn't expected to ease anytime soon

LA Times  

With COVID-19 numbers in California spiking this summer, experts are warning the new strains driving the spread could be around for some time. It’s also true that, with this being the fifth summer of the COVID era, many people have thrown caution to the wind, and many sick people are continuing to go about their lives without masking or other …

COVID surging in California, nears two-year summer high. ‘Almost everybody has it’
8 months ago

COVID surging in California, nears two-year summer high. ‘Almost everybody has it’

LA Times  

California’s COVID-19 test positivity rate has surpassed last summer’s peak, largely fueled by the FLiRT variants, particularly KP.3.1.1. “So, unfortunately, I think we are going to see a lot more cases.” Coronavirus levels in California sewage are considered “very high” for a third consecutive week, the CDC said Friday. The wave from the summer of 2022 played out over 16 …

California hits ‘very high’ COVID levels as virus in wastewater jumps significantly
8 months, 2 weeks ago

California hits ‘very high’ COVID levels as virus in wastewater jumps significantly

LA Times  

A record number of passengers passed through LAX at the end of the July 4 holiday this month. And for the first time since the winter, California has “very high” coronavirus levels in its wastewater, according to CDC data for the week ending July 6. Coronavirus levels in California’s wastewater are now estimated to be significantly higher than last summer. …

COVID cases keep rising in L.A. County due to FLiRT; Mayor Karen Bass tests positive
8 months, 4 weeks ago

COVID cases keep rising in L.A. County due to FLiRT; Mayor Karen Bass tests positive

LA Times  

Despite a recent increase in coronavirus cases, fewer people are masking now — including most of these guests at UCLA’s graduation in June. The latest count shows the most new coronavirus cases per day since February’s tally, as the virus’ winter peak was trending down. For the week that ended June 22, there were an average of 153 patients in …

Summer COVID bump intensifies in L.A. and California, fueled by FLiRT variants
9 months ago

Summer COVID bump intensifies in L.A. and California, fueled by FLiRT variants

LA Times  

A group of mostly skateboarders ride along the boardwalk during a meetup with Vibe Ride LA on May 21 in Santa Monica. The California Department of Public Health in June updated its guidance for older adults, “especially those with weakened immune systems.” Officials urged older people to stay up to date on vaccines, seek medication if sickened with COVID, and …

L.A. County COVID cases, hospitalizations rise amid FLiRT variants summer uptick
9 months, 2 weeks ago

L.A. County COVID cases, hospitalizations rise amid FLiRT variants summer uptick

LA Times  

Some people wear masks at commencement ceremonies at UCLA. If positive, it’s likely you’re more likely to infect others Keep your distance from other people Increase air circulation by opening windows, turn on air purifiers and gather outdoors if meeting with people Stick with enhanced hygiene — washing and sanitizing hands often, cleaning high-touch surfaces and covering coughs and sneezes …

COVID cases rising in L.A. County and California as new subvariants make mark
9 months, 2 weeks ago

COVID cases rising in L.A. County and California as new subvariants make mark

LA Times  

Travelers and airline crew members at Los Angeles International Airport in May. This one “started a little bit earlier, so it may crest a little earlier, and oftentimes we don’t see those hospitalized cases until a little further in.” COVID levels also are rising in wastewater. But with only 36% of California’s seniors having received any COVID shots since September, …

New COVID subvariants are rising: How bad will California get hit this summer?
9 months, 4 weeks ago

New COVID subvariants are rising: How bad will California get hit this summer?

LA Times  

As the new FLiRT family of coronavirus subvariants takes hold, early signs are pointing to a summer jump in cases. California’s COVID waves last summer and winter were still big enough to cause significant disruptions, including outbreaks in schools, among sports teams and at Hollywood studios, while some businesses saw higher numbers of workers calling in sick. “In years past, …

Flu season is over, but there is a viral surge in California wastewater. Is it avian flu?
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Flu season is over, but there is a viral surge in California wastewater. Is it avian flu?

LA Times  

An unusual surge in flu viruses detected at wastewater treatment plants in California and other parts of the country is raising concerns among some experts that H5N1 bird flu may be spreading farther and faster than health officers initially thought. Alexandria Boehm, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and principal investigator and program director for WastewaterSCAN — …

These charts show COVID-19’s summer surge in the US
55 years, 2 months ago

These charts show COVID-19’s summer surge in the US

Associated Press  

COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests it’s on the upswing around the country. “We’ve seen these summer increases every summer that COVID-19 has been with us,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Johns Hopkins University infectious disease physician. “What’s different about these cases this summer vs. prior summers is that they don’t …

California relaxes COVID isolation guidance. What you need to know
1 year, 2 months ago

California relaxes COVID isolation guidance. What you need to know

LA Times  

With COVID-19 no longer the widespread public health emergency it was in years past, public health officials at both the state and Los Angeles County levels have relaxed their guidance on how long individuals need to isolate from others after they are infected. Under guidelines revised this month, officials at the California and county departments of public health now say …

One-two punch of COVID and flu is hitting L.A. County hard
1 year, 2 months ago

One-two punch of COVID and flu is hitting L.A. County hard

LA Times  

Coronavirus levels are high and rising throughout California amid a post-holiday spike in infections. “We are seeing some increases in COVID-19 activity, especially often after the travel and gatherings of the holiday season.” California COVID-19 intensifies across California, with the worst probably still to come New data show pronounced recent jumps in the rate at which coronavirus and flu tests …

COVID-19 intensifies across California, with the worst probably still to come
1 year, 2 months ago

COVID-19 intensifies across California, with the worst probably still to come

LA Times  

The winter COVID-and-flu season is ramping up in California and nationwide, with doctors and other experts saying the worst of the respiratory illness season is still to come. “And we’re probably not quite to the zenith of it yet,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “Looking at some of the data that …

Sick with COVID and the flu: Double infections hit California hard
1 year, 2 months ago

Sick with COVID and the flu: Double infections hit California hard

LA Times  

California’s hospitals are getting busier with more COVID-19 and flu patients, some of whom are suffering from both viruses at the same time. L.A. County’s entry into the “medium” COVID-19 hospitalization category has prompted local public health officials to order hospitals, nursing homes and any other inpatient facility to require healthcare employees mask up while in patient-care areas. Multiple tests …

Everyone in California seems to be sick with respiratory illness. Here’s why
1 year, 3 months ago

Everyone in California seems to be sick with respiratory illness. Here’s why

LA Times  

Does it seem like a lot of people you know are sick? In Los Angeles County, about 23% of people participating in a weekly text-message-based survey reported having a cough or shortness of breath for the week that ended Dec. 10, higher than the total reported during a late summer peak in respiratory illnesses, when 21% said they had those …

COVID-19 and flu cases are rising in California. How bad will the holiday uptick be?
1 year, 3 months ago

COVID-19 and flu cases are rising in California. How bad will the holiday uptick be?

LA Times  

COVID-19 and flu are rising across California, sparking new warnings from health officials to take precautions as the wider winter holiday season looms. “Getting tested and treated early can prevent you from getting severely ill, being hospitalized and can potentially save your life.” Relatively speaking, COVID-19, flu and another ailment — respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — aren’t at the …

COVID outbreaks hit workplaces, schools across California as summer illnesses worsen
1 year, 6 months ago

COVID outbreaks hit workplaces, schools across California as summer illnesses worsen

LA Times  

The summer COVID bump is worsening in California, with infections spreading at schools and workplaces, and hospitalizations ticking up. Among the work sites in L.A. County where there are active COVID-19 outbreak investigations are the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, CBS Studio Center Stage 18, the L.A. City Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Street Services, the Westchester-Loyola Village Branch …

‘The pandemic isn’t over.’ Coronavirus cases in L.A. County keep rising
1 year, 7 months ago

‘The pandemic isn’t over.’ Coronavirus cases in L.A. County keep rising

LA Times  

Experts say travel, the back-to-school season and new Omicron subvariants are the likely reasons why coronavirus cases are continuing to rise locally and across the nation. New outbreaks have been reported in Los Angeles County’s nursing homes, and one Hollywood studio temporarily imposed a mask mandate after several employees were infected. “While hospitalizations are increasing, the current levels are still …

With coronavirus on the upswing in California, new vaccine coming sooner than expected
1 year, 7 months ago

With coronavirus on the upswing in California, new vaccine coming sooner than expected

LA Times  

With an uptick of coronavirus cases in the Southland, a member of the medical staff at MLK Community Hospital wears a mask while being framed by a sculpture titled “Pieces Together” by Lawrence Argent in Watts on Aug. 17. In Los Angeles County, COVID-19 levels have risen for the fifth consecutive week, with the number of newly reported infections likely …

COVID-19 is on the rise this summer. What to know, how to stay safe
1 year, 7 months ago

COVID-19 is on the rise this summer. What to know, how to stay safe

LA Times  

It is not your imagination — more people this summer are getting COVID-19. The number of coronavirus test results reported to the California Department of Public Health has also doubled over the last month, a possible indication that more people are getting sick — or are at least concerned they have been exposed to the virus. The updated COVID-19 booster …

Data, funding gaps threaten public health pandemic efforts
1 year, 9 months ago

Data, funding gaps threaten public health pandemic efforts

LA Times  

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, center, tours the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services prior to hosting a meeting on pandemic preparedness Thursday. “From a public health standpoint, I think we did learn a lot,” Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis said. World & Nation COVID-19 outbreak hits CDC epidemiology conference The …

How much COVID is in my community? It’s getting harder to tell
1 year, 10 months ago

How much COVID is in my community? It’s getting harder to tell

LA Times  

Bianca Povalitis, center, along with fellow roller skaters enjoy an evening at Venice Beach Skate Plaza in June 2022. But dwindling data make it more difficult to assess the virus’ trajectory in specific areas and for people to adjust their attitudes and behaviors accordingly — a potentially unsettling development for those who remain most at risk of falling seriously ill. …

California COVID-19 rules ease as emergency declarations end. Here’s what’s changed
1 year, 11 months ago

California COVID-19 rules ease as emergency declarations end. Here’s what’s changed

LA Times  

Shoppers, some wearing masks, make their way along Santee Alley in Los Angeles on Dec. 6, 2022. “With the rescinding of many emergency orders these past weeks, there are questions about which sensible protections remain important to consider,” said L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. “Given the differing risks both by setting and by individual characteristics, the goals of …

California to alter COVID rules in healthcare settings: Masks and vaccinations not required
2 years ago

California to alter COVID rules in healthcare settings: Masks and vaccinations not required

LA Times  

Jazmin Escamilla takes blood samples Dec. 19 in the ambulance bay outside the emergency department at MLK Community Hospital in Los Angeles. With the COVID-19 state of emergency a thing of the past, California health officials on Friday unveiled plans to relax guidance on masking in high-risk settings and to end vaccination requirements for healthcare workers. California L.A. County’s COVID-19 …

L.A. County relaxes universal mask recommendation as COVID eases
2 years, 2 months ago

L.A. County relaxes universal mask recommendation as COVID eases

LA Times  

Kevin Guerrero, left, and Rafael Guerrero relax as they sit next to their shopping bags at the Glendale Galleria. L.A. County had strongly recommended universal indoor masking in public settings since mid-November, when its coronavirus case rate topped 100 cases a week for every 100,000 residents, a level that is considered high. For weeks, L.A. County reached a plateau, with …

Has California avoided another devastating winter COVID wave?
2 years, 2 months ago

Has California avoided another devastating winter COVID wave?

LA Times  

Shoppers, some wearing masks, made their way along Santee Alley in Los Angeles in December. “I never say we’re in the clear, because there’s still people for whom COVID is going to remain a really big concern, and they’re going to continue to need to do everything they can to avoid getting infected,” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara …

A ‘very different January’: L.A. County drops to low COVID community level
2 years, 2 months ago

A ‘very different January’: L.A. County drops to low COVID community level

LA Times  

A pooled coronavirus testing area is seen at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 2. “We’re not seeing the post-holiday spike that was expected by the end of the first week in January,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Thursday. On a per capita basis, that’s 76 cases a week for every 100,000 …

L.A. County COVID-19 deaths hit a new winter high. Why?
2 years, 2 months ago

L.A. County COVID-19 deaths hit a new winter high. Why?

LA Times  

Claire Altieri sets up a testing site for coronavirus variants at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday. “Deaths are high, and it’s really upsetting,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Thursday. COVID-19 “did seem relatively flat over the holidays,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said during a webinar Tuesday, and officials are hopeful …

Will XBB.1.5, the latest Omicron subvariant, fuel another California COVID surge? What we know
2 years, 2 months ago

Will XBB.1.5, the latest Omicron subvariant, fuel another California COVID surge? What we know

LA Times  

A traveler arrives inside Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on Monday. XBB.1.5 “is the most transmissible subvariant that has been detected yet,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s technical lead on COVID-19. “We can’t attribute the increase in hospitalizations to XBB.1.5 yet, but we are working with U.S. CDC colleagues …

Workers in L.A. County should wear masks indoors to prevent COVID surge, officials say
2 years, 2 months ago

Workers in L.A. County should wear masks indoors to prevent COVID surge, officials say

LA Times  

Faced with the possibility of another COVID-19 surge stemming from parties and travel over the winter holiday season, Los Angeles County health officials are urging workers and students to wear masks in indoor public settings for at least 10 days once they return to work and school. “The holiday season by its very nature brings increased risk of exposure, including …

‘A lot of viruses running around’: L.A. County hospital beds at lowest availability since pandemic began
2 years, 3 months ago

‘A lot of viruses running around’: L.A. County hospital beds at lowest availability since pandemic began

LA Times  

Vivian Solorio sits with her son Samuel Avila, who is almost 3 months, in the Emergency Department of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in South Los Angeles on Friday. “It’s reasonable to speculate that part of the reason for the low number of available hospital beds is due to many patients seeking care that may have been delayed during …

L.A. County hits high COVID-19 community level, but mask mandate far from certain
2 years, 3 months ago

L.A. County hits high COVID-19 community level, but mask mandate far from certain

LA Times  

Los Angeles County has again entered the high COVID-19 community level, further indication that the continuing spike in cases is starting to exert pressure on the region’s hospitals. L.A. County hasn’t been in the high COVID-19 community level since summer, the last time when it appeared a mask mandate might be imminent. The county’s move into the high COVID-19 community …

Dangerous weeks ahead in L.A. County as coronavirus suddenly surges. Here is why
2 years, 3 months ago

Dangerous weeks ahead in L.A. County as coronavirus suddenly surges. Here is why

LA Times  

Commuters, some with face masks and some without, walk through Los Angeles Union Station on Tuesday. “People came back from Thanksgiving and pretty quickly were testing positive,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. Dr. Sara Cody, the county’s public health director, warned that this winter is shaping up to be “extraordinarily difficult,” pointing to sewage data suggesting coronavirus levels …

California senior citizens are hit hard as COVID-19 surges this winter
2 years, 3 months ago

California senior citizens are hit hard as COVID-19 surges this winter

LA Times  

Dr. Janina Lord Morrison, chief physician for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, visits a home to administer COVID-19 boosters. On Nov. 17, all but one of California’s 58 counties — Imperial — was in the low COVID-19 community level as defined by the CDC, which measures case and hospitalization rates. Los Angeles and Orange are among 27 …

‘Off the charts’: California hit with very high flu activity, among worst in U.S.
2 years, 3 months ago

‘Off the charts’: California hit with very high flu activity, among worst in U.S.

LA Times  

California is now reporting very high flu levels, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as the respiratory illness continues to surge nationwide. “This triple threat … has a lot of potential to cause there to be significant circulating illness and to strain our healthcare system — both in terms of the number of beds that are …

COVID-19 cases in most populous US county surge to highest levels: media
2 years, 3 months ago

COVID-19 cases in most populous US county surge to highest levels: media

China Daily  

A Chevron gas station sign displays the price of gas next to a man doing COVID-19 testing on Sept 21, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. LOS ANGELES - COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States, have surged to highest levels since summer wave, local media reported on Thursday, citing official data. The US …

L.A. County strongly recommends indoor masking as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations jump
2 years, 4 months ago

L.A. County strongly recommends indoor masking as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations jump

LA Times  

A sign at a Chinatown business reminds customers to wear a face covering in July 2021. L.A. County is now strongly recommending indoor masking as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations climb. “Indoor masking is, as it has been in the past during times of elevated transmission, strongly recommended for all individuals,” county health officer Dr. Muntu Davis said Thursday. California L.A. …

Southern California braces for difficult flu season as cases rise after COVID lull
2 years, 5 months ago

Southern California braces for difficult flu season as cases rise after COVID lull

LA Times  

Officials generally recommend the flu vaccine for people 6 months and older. This year, officials are also suggesting those age 65 or older get turbocharged flu vaccines that are considered higher dose or “adjuvanted,” which helps trigger a stronger immune response. The current levels of flu activity are “much higher” compared to pre-pandemic years, the Los Angeles County Department of …

Boston officials report elevated coronavirus levels in wastewater
2 years, 5 months ago

Boston officials report elevated coronavirus levels in wastewater

LA Times  

Boston health officials said they’re concerned about elevated levels of the coronavirus in the city’s wastewater. The concentration of the virus in local wastewater has increased by 3.1% over the past week and by nearly 100% over the past two weeks, according to data gathered last week by the Boston Public Health Commission. New COVID-19 cases in Boston have decreased …

California enjoying ‘good COVID weather’ now. But a tough winter could be coming
2 years, 6 months ago

California enjoying ‘good COVID weather’ now. But a tough winter could be coming

LA Times  

Metro Chief Executive Stephanie Wiggins, left, and other passengers wear masks while inside a Metro train in August as it leaves the Expo/Crenshaw station in Los Angeles. “If our vaccinations don’t work, because we have a new variant or the new variant evades a lot of protections, you’re going to want to put your mask back on, because that’s going …

Californians working while sick with COVID-19, fooled by mild symptoms
2 years, 7 months ago

Californians working while sick with COVID-19, fooled by mild symptoms

LA Times  

Jeremy Oyague, a registered nurse with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, administers a COVID-19 booster at a vaccination clinic in Los Angeles. When case rates are at this level, “it’s still recommended to layer in precautions that we have all become familiar with during the pandemic, including masking indoors, staying home and getting tested when ill, making …

L.A. County drops out of high COVID-19 level as surge eases
2 years, 7 months ago

L.A. County drops out of high COVID-19 level as surge eases

LA Times  

People, many wearing masks, wait to buy tickets for the Mega Millions lottery at Bluebird Liquor on July 29 in Hawthorne. Los Angeles County officially moved out of the high COVID-19 community level Thursday as one top state health official expressed hope that California is at the end of the pandemic’s latest wave. “While we’re greatly encouraged by the decline …

Wastewater data shows big coronavirus spike in San Diego
2 years, 8 months ago

Wastewater data shows big coronavirus spike in San Diego

LA Times  

San Diego’s latest wastewater numbers show that the region is experiencing a massive increase in coronavirus transmission driven by BA.5, the subvariant now causing concern worldwide. Updated Thursday by the SEARCH Coalition, a group of local research labs led by UC San Diego and Scripps Research, wastewater testing detected 15.5 million coronavirus copies per liter of wastewater sampled at the …

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