With Rising COVID-19 Transmission, Simple Steps to Provide Protection Recommended During Holiday Celebrations

With schools on break and many winter holidays still ahead, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) recognizes that for many residents this is a magical time of year, filled with opportunities to enjoy the company of family and friends. Everyone is encouraged to take time to connect with those you care about while also taking common-sense precautions to avoid getting sick and spreading illness to others.

Amidst celebrations, it’s important to remain aware of respiratory illnesses currently circulating, especially when there are guests who are more vulnerable to severe illness in attendance. Being proactive to prevent illness leading up to and during events can significantly reduce the risk of travel disruptions, last-minute cancellations, and inadvertently spreading illness, ensuring a more enjoyable holiday season for everyone.

In Los Angeles County, Public Health continues to report increased signs of COVID-19 transmission. This week, Public Health is reporting a daily average of 495 cases, an undercount due to the number of home-test results not reported. This is an 80 percent increase from the daily average of recorded COVID-19 cases one month ago on Nov. 22.

During this same time period, Los Angeles County has also seen a significant rise in SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in wastewater concentrations. This week, Public Health is reporting wastewater concentrations that are 39 percent of last year’s winter peak, triple the levels reported one month ago, when wastewater concentrations were 13 percent of last year’s winter peak.

The impact of more COVID-19 circulating in the community can be seen in the rise in the number of COVID-positive hospitalizations in Los Angeles County. This week, Public Health is reporting a daily average of 601 COVID-positive hospitalizations, over a 65 percent increase from one month ago. The daily average of the percentage of Emergency Department visits related to COVID-19 has increased from 3.6 percent to 4.6 percent during the same period.

It is possible that at least part of the local increase in transmission is driven by new COVID-19 strains gaining dominance in Los Angeles County, including JN.1, a newly emerging strain descended from BA.2.86, an Omicron lineage. For specimens collected during the two-week period ending Nov. 25, the most recent data currently available, JN.1 accounted for 10 percent of sequenced specimens, a rapid increase from late October when the strain was first detected in Los Angeles County and accounted for only 1 percent of sequenced specimens.

This same rapid increase has been seen across the United States. The CDC has a predictive model, called the Nowcast, that estimates the proportion at which each strain is circulating for more recent time periods, since it takes a few weeks to get measured data due to the time needed to sequence specimens. The CDC Nowcast estimates that, for the two-week period ending Dec. 9, JN.1 accounts for more than 1 in 5 COVID-19 cases nationally and about 16 percent in Region 9, which includes California. Experts speculate that this may be due to an evolution on the spike protein which gives the new strain greater ability to evade immunity, and therefore, the potential to spread more easily. JN.1 does not, however, appear to be resulting in more severe cases of COVID-19.

Currently, in Los Angeles County, for specimens collected the two-week period ending Nov. 25, strains descended from XBB accounted for 87 percent of sequenced specimens. HV.1 accounted for the highest proportion, at 28 percent, followed by EG.5 at 13 percent, HK.3 at 11 percent, and JN.1 at 10 percent.

To protect against COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses circulating this holiday season, residents should continue to take common-sense precautions. They should wash their hands often or use hand sanitizer, especially before eating, after sneezing or coughing, or when in public places. They also should consider wearing a well-fitted, high-quality mask in crowded indoor spaces, travel hubs or poorly ventilated spaces. People should stay home if they have any symptoms of illness, including coughing, sneezing, a fever or sore throat, and consider talking with friends and family so they know to be cautious about gathering if they show signs of infection.

Now is a good time to stock up on COVID-19 tests, and event hosts may want to consider asking their guests to test for COVID-19 before celebrations, especially if older or immunocompromised people will be present. Tests are widely available in Los Angeles County, including at libraries, through community-based organizations, by mail through the federal government, and at local pharmacies through your health insurance policy. More details are available at ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests.

Vaccines also continue to provide valuable protection against severe illness. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older. People over 60, those with very young children and pregnant people should speak with their provider about the RSV vaccine as well.

If Los Angeles County residents have questions about vaccines, such as where to get vaccinated or how to get tested, the Public Health Call Center remains open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 1-833-540-0473. However, the Call Center will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan.1 for the holidays. Public Health staff can connect callers with resources and help people schedule vaccination appointments, including in-home vaccinations for those that are homebound. The Public Health Call Center can also be used to access free telehealth services for COVID-19, including a no-cost prescription for Paxlovid, an anti-viral medication to treat COVID-19, if eligible.

In Los Angeles County, based on data through Dec. 9, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hospital Admission Level is Low at 6.5 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

Public Health reports COVID-19 data weekly. The following table shows case, wastewater, emergency department, hospitalization, and death data in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks.