California
Preventing Severe Illness for Those Infected with COVID-19 Remains a Priority
Preventing Severe Illness for Those Infected with COVID-19 Remains a Priority with 1 in 10 Los Angeles County Residents Hospitalized with COVID-19 Treated in Intensive Care Units
Boosters, Treatment Reduce Risks of Hospitalization, Deaths
Even though fewer people are getting severely sick from COVID-19, adults over 65 years old continue to be hospitalized at significantly higher rates than younger people and, of everyone hospitalized for COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, more than 1 in 10 people required highly specialized medical attention in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
While many people have taken precautions that have reduced the overall impact of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including being up to date on vaccines, there are still a sizable number of older people and those with underlying health conditions experiencing severe illness if infected.
On April 11, of the 338 people hospitalized with COVID-19 across Los Angeles County, 38 individuals required care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), including 25 patients on ventilators.
Older residents are hospitalized and admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 at much higher rates than their younger counterparts. Over the most recent 12 weeks, adults 80 years of age and older were 17 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and 24 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 compared to adults 30-49 years of age. Residents ages 65-79 years old were 11 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and more than six times more likely to be admitted to the ICU with COVID-19, when compared to residents ages 30-49.
COVID-19 also remains the leading infectious cause of death in Los Angeles County with over eight deaths reported on average each day last week. In 2022, COVID was the third leading cause of death in the county, behind only coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Local data confirm that the updated booster provides needed protection against new strains, helping to reduce severe illness at a greater rate than the primary series and monovalent booster alone. People who received the updated bivalent booster are hospitalized at a rate that is five times lower and die at a rate that is six times lower than people who are unvaccinated.
Vaccination locations and appointments can be found at VaccinateLACounty.com. For residents who have difficulties leaving their home, Public Health offers free in-home COVID-19 vaccine and booster appointments. Appointments may be booked at ph.lacounty.gov/vaxathome or by calling 1-833-540-0473.
For people who get sick with COVID-19, medicines are available to reduce the severity of the illness. COVID-19 medications are available with a prescription. Individuals who don’t have access to a provider or can’t reach their own provider in a timely manner can get medication if eligible by calling Public Health’s telehealth services at 1-833-540-0473. That phone line is open from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day.
Variant data continue to keep Public Health officials optimistic about the overall COVID-19 situation in Los Angeles County. Looking at the most recent set of sequenced specimens, XBB.1.5 remains the dominant strain locally, as it has been since early February, currently accounting for 88% of tested specimens. The currently circulating COVID-19 strains in Los Angeles County are all descendants of Omicron and we are not seeing new variants or a rapid rise of any new strains.
Meanwhile, sewer shed data also confirms that COVID-19 is circulating at manageable levels in the county. Current wastewater concentrations, as of April 1, are substantially lower than what we saw during the peak of the most recent winter and they remain stable at this lower level. The average concentration level is 14% of the winter peak, indicating that, although transmission is still occurring, there is low concern for rapid spread of the virus.
“I would like to offer my condolences to those who have lost a loved one to COVID-19. May you find comfort and healing,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “While I remain optimistic, given the reality of a mutating virus, there is the need to continue to monitor COVID-19 transmission, hospitalizations, and new strains so that we are prepared to meet any future challenges. This information helps us understand both individual and community risk and pass along information on how to remain protected from severe COVID-19 illness. For those most vulnerable, reducing risk remains important, even during times of low transmission. With an effective bi-valent booster and ample access to therapeutics, we ought to be able to see even lower numbers of hospitalizations and deaths.”
The weekly reported case count for COVID-19 increased 11% from the week prior from 2,731 last week to 3,023 this week, although the overall trend remains stable. Reported weekly deaths increased slightly from 53 last week to 59 this week. The 7-day average number of COVID hospitalizations is 348 this week, a decrease from 378 last week.
Los Angeles County remains in the CDC’s Low COVID-19 Community Level for the 13th consecutive week. This includes a weekly reported case rate of 30 new cases per 100,000 people. The 7-day total for new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people is currently 3.3. And the 7-day average of the proportion of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients is now 2.0%.
As of Tuesday, April 11, there have been a total of 36,106 deaths in Los Angeles County.
Public Health is now reporting COVID data weekly. The following table shows the weekly reported case counts, average number of daily hospitalizations, and weekly reported death counts in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks.
Metric Date of Weekly Report 4/11/2023 4/4/2023 3/28/2023 3/21/2023 Weekly cases reported1 3,023 2,731 3,505 4,307 SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentration as a percentage of the Winter 2022-2023 peak concentration value2 14% 14% 21% 21% 7-day average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations3 348 378 401 454 7-day average of the percent of Emergency Department (ED) encounters classified as coronavirus-related4 3.2% 3.6% 4.0% 4.0% Weekly deaths reported1 59 53 58 86 1) Weekly case and death counts represent the number of cases and deaths reported for the week ending each Tuesday. The date a case/death is reported by DPH is not the same as the date of testing or death. 2) Wastewater concentrations reflect the week ending each Saturday, with a one week lag. 3) Hospitalization data represents average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations for the week ending each Tuesday. Data for past weeks is subject to change in future reports.4) Emergency department data represents average number of coronavirus classified encounters for the week ending each Sunday. Data for past weeks is subject to change in future reports.
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:
- COVID-19 Locations & Demographics (data by demographic characteristics and geography, active outbreaks, and citations)
- COVID-19 Response Plan
- COVID-19 Vaccinations
- Skilled Nursing Facility Metrics
Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/
- California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- CDC Spanishhttps://espanol.cdc.gov/enes/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
- LA County residents can also call 2-1-1
| For more information: Cases through 12:00pm 4/10/2023 | ||
| Total Cases | ||
| Laboratory Confirmed Cases | 3,730,372 | |
| — Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas) | 3,526,814 | |
| — Long Beach | 163,545 | |
| — Pasadena | 40,013 | |
| Deaths | 36,106 | |
| — Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas) | 34,259 | |
| — Long Beach | 1,400 | |
| — Pasadena | 447 | |
| Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas) | ||
| – 0 to 4 | 111,375 | |
| – 5 to 11 | 282,495 | |
| – 12 to 17 | 277,348 | |
| – 18 to 29 | 756,907 | |
| – 30 to 49 | 1,131,078 | |
| – 50 to 64 | 611,722 | |
| – 65 to 79 | 261,770 | |
| – over 80 | 91,642 | |
| – Under Investigation | 2,477 | |
| Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas) | ||
| – Female | 1,819,512 | |
| – Male | 1,616,779 | |
| – Other | 1,789 | |
| – Under Investigation | 88,734 | |
| Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas) | ||
| – American Indian/Alaska Native | 6,698 | |
| – Asian | 262,323 | |
| – Black | 185,064 | |
| – Hispanic/Latino | 1,509,496 | |
| – Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 17,655 | |
| – White | 489,302 | |
| – Other | 403,970 | |
| – Under Investigation | 652,306 | |
| Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas) | ||
| – Hospitalized (Ever) | 175,832 | |
| Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas) | ||
| – American Indian/Alaska Native | 80 | |
| – Asian | 4,456 | |
| – Black | 3,212 | |
| – Hispanic/Latino | 16,795 | |
| – Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 118 | |
| – White | 9,093 | |
| – Other | 413 | |
| – Under Investigation | 92 | |
| CITY / COMMUNITY** | Cases | Case Rate |
| City of Agoura Hills | 6324 | 30283 |
| City of Alhambra | 25357 | 29239 |
| City of Arcadia | 13599 | 23546 |
| City of Artesia | 5982 | 35618 |
| City of Avalon | 288 | 7444 |
| City of Azusa | 17475 | 34922 |
| City of Baldwin Park | 29573 | 38522 |
| City of Bell | 16969 | 46705 |
| City of Bell Gardens | 17073 | 39639 |
| City of Bellflower | 30685 | 39474 |
| City of Beverly Hills | 11529 | 33398 |
| City of Bradbury | 71 | 6642 |
| City of Burbank | 32704 | 30513 |
| City of Calabasas | 5801 | 23850 |
| City of Carson | 34812 | 37095 |
| City of Cerritos | 13274 | 26512 |
| City of Claremont | 10349 | 28366 |
| City of Commerce* | 5853 | 44785 |
| City of Compton | 40095 | 40134 |
| City of Covina | 20188 | 41173 |
| City of Cudahy | 12185 | 50047 |
| City of Culver City | 11870 | 29775 |
| City of Diamond Bar | 13587 | 23623 |
| City of Downey | 46618 | 40799 |
| City of Duarte | 7468 | 33921 |
| City of El Monte | 42606 | 36332 |
| City of El Segundo | 4055 | 24157 |
| City of Gardena | 21782 | 35528 |
| City of Glendale | 60085 | 29098 |
| City of Glendora | 14978 | 28387 |
| City of Hawaiian Gardens | 4992 | 34015 |
| City of Hawthorne | 29502 | 33228 |
| City of Hermosa Beach | 4707 | 23930 |
| City of Hidden Hills | 380 | 20106 |
| City of Huntington Park | 26248 | 44126 |
| City of Industry | 1005 | 229977 |
| City of Inglewood | 38611 | 33994 |
| City of Irwindale | 882 | 60452 |
| City of La Canada Flintridge | 4523 | 21858 |
| City of La Habra Heights | 213 | 3905 |
| City of La Mirada | 14170 | 28569 |
| City of La Puente | 15954 | 39202 |
| City of La Verne | 9212 | 27679 |
| City of Lakewood | 26926 | 33506 |
| City of Lancaster* | 63888 | 39542 |
| City of Lawndale | 10563 | 31424 |
| City of Lomita | 6074 | 29302 |
| City of Lynwood* | 31142 | 43225 |
| City of Malibu | 2869 | 22136 |
| City of Manhattan Beach | 7414 | 20595 |
| City of Maywood | 12766 | 45513 |
| City of Monrovia | 11819 | 30461 |
| City of Montebello | 25374 | 39416 |
| City of Monterey Park | 17423 | 27983 |
| City of Norwalk | 42830 | 39797 |
| City of Palmdale | 66696 | 41956 |
| City of Palos Verdes Estates | 2253 | 16662 |
| City of Paramount | 22662 | 40451 |
| City of Pico Rivera | 28017 | 43583 |
| City of Pomona |
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