With a new wave of COVID-19 cases spiking across the state, officials emphasize the importance of vaccines to prevent widespread disruptions.
Since mid-May, The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has reported consistent increases in COVID-19 cases. In the past four weeks, reported cases, hospitalizations, virus concentrations in wastewater, and the percentage of positive tests have doubled.
Transmission is also spiking across the state, with federal officials saying the spread has already surpassed last year’s levels and is on track to meet or exceed 2022. The latest surge is primarily driven by the FLiRT variants, a group of highly transmissible strains likely to become dominant this year.
Last week, Public Health reported an average of 452 daily cases, up from 229 four weeks ago. Reported cases are an undercount due to many at-home test results not being reported. Wastewater concentrations of SARS CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, are at 44% of the Winter 2023-2024 peak, double the 17% reported in early July, indicating increasing transmission in LA County. Wastewater concentrations may provide more complete information about transmission levels than reported cases alone.
Public Health is reporting an average of 81.6 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per day, a two-fold increase from 41.4 four weeks ago. The 7-day average number of daily COVID-19 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County is 389. Ten percent of hospitalized COVID-19 patients this past week were in intensive care units.
COVID-19 deaths remain relatively stable. Public Health is reporting 1.9 daily average deaths this week, compared to 0.9 in early July. Changes in the death metric may be seen later than other metrics due to the time needed to receive death certificates and the disease's natural progression.
Public Health urges residents to take common-sense precautions to avoid COVID-19, especially as families return from summer travel and children in LA County prepare to go back to school. Experts said vaccines are still the best tool to address the problem.
"Population immunity has moved us out of the pandemic," said Dr. Manisha Patel, chief medical officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "Now the goal is to make sure we keep that immunity up because it does wane. And the way we keep it up is through vaccination. That is the safest way to keep our country healthy."
The CDC recently announced that new COVID-19 vaccines would be available later this year. The agency recommends everyone — with the exception of babies under six months old — get vaccinated to protect against serious illness this fall and winter. The recommendation applies to people who have previously been vaccinated as well as to those who have never had a COVID-19 vaccine
In the US, 81% of adults have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, but only 21% got the updated 2023-24 vaccine, according to CDC data. Only 9% said they would definitely get the 2023-24 vaccine and 43% said they probably or definitely would not.
That could leave many people unprotected against currently circulating strains of the virus, said Dr. Hung Fu Tseng, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation and a professor at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Pasadena, California.
"Our protection goes away over time," he said, adding that a regular vaccine dose is needed to keep that protection.
Like the flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccines will offer protection against currently circulating variants during the fall and winter, Patel said. "They should protect you through the season."
The main goal of vaccination — for any virus — is not to completely prevent infection but to reduce disease severity if an infection occurs, Tseng said. "The goal is to prevent severe outcomes, especially for the elderly, immune-compromised people and infants."
People who recently had COVID-19 can wait three months before getting vaccinated, the CDC says. However, certain people may consider getting the vaccine sooner, including those at risk for severe COVID-19.
Additional doses of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine are available for Los Angeles County residents 65 and older, providing added protection against severe illness and death. Residents can get a dose four months after their previous one. For vaccination information, visit ph.lacounty.gov/vaccines.
COVID-19 testing is recommended for those with symptoms or recent exposure. Free tests are available throughout LA County and at local pharmacies through most insurance plans. More information is at ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests.
Individuals testing positive should stay away from others until they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication and symptoms have resolved. Masking around others is necessary for 10 days after testing positive or after symptoms start. Free and low-cost therapeutics to prevent serious illness from COVID-19 are available in LA County. For more information, visit ph.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/medication/.
Residents should take precautions to avoid transmitting or becoming ill with COVID-19. This includes frequent hand washing or using hand sanitizer, especially before eating, after sneezing or coughing, or when in public places, and considering mask use in crowded indoor spaces. Stay home if experiencing any symptoms of illness, and inform friends and family to be cautious about gathering if they show signs of infection.
For residents concerned about exposure or seeking resources, many options remain available. The Public Health InfoLine is open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm. This free service connects callers with someone who can answer questions, coordinate free telehealth care for COVID-19 treatment, and help make vaccination appointments, including for homebound individuals. The number is 1-833-540-0473.
Laura Williamson from the American Heart Association contributed to this report.
