Respiratory Virus Transmission Indicators Still Heightened from Winter Surge

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) continues to report elevated levels of COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity, underscoring the need for common-sense precautions even as we see slight declines in some indicators.

As COVID-19, flu and RSV continue to circulate in Los Angeles County, residents remain at increased risk of being exposed or exposing others to respiratory infections. People are encouraged to take common-sense precautions, such as getting vaccinated and, if sick, staying home, testing and seeking treatment, to protect themselves and the people around them from respiratory illness.

In Los Angeles County, wastewater concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, were up this week at 66 percent of last year’s winter peak, an increase from 60 percent reported last week, and significantly higher than the 36 percent reported on Dec. 27. Wastewater concentrations provide a more complete picture of COVID-19 transmission levels than reported cases alone.

Some other indicators have declined slightly over the past week but remain elevated. Daily average cases in Los Angeles County fell to 462 from 483 a week earlier. Reported cases do not include home tests, so the actual number of COVID-19 infections in the community is much higher. There was a daily average of 768 COVID-positive hospitalized patients this week compared to 830 last week. However, average daily COVID-19 deaths increased to 5.6 for the week ending Dec. 25, 2023, up from 3.7 reported a week earlier. It is not unexpected to see increases in the death metric later than other metrics due to both the time needed to receive death certificates and the natural progression of the disease.

Los Angeles County’s COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has returned to the Low Level after two weeks at Medium Level. Last Friday, CDC reported 9.8 new COVID-19 hospital admissions in Los Angeles County per 100,000 people for the week ending Jan. 6. Today, CDC reported 9.6 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people for the week ending Jan. 13.

Los Angeles County’s masking requirement for inpatient facilities as outlined in the Health Officer Order posted on Dec. 27, 2023, remains in effect despite the change in CDC Hospital Admission Levels. The new COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level for Los Angeles is hovering just below 10, with rates of 9.8 and 9.6 per 100,000 for the past two weeks. To continue to better protect patients in licensed healthcare facilities that provide inpatient care while COVID-19 transmission remains elevated and the hospital admission rate remains very close to 10, Los Angeles County will maintain required masking by staff and visitors in these facilities. Public Health will reassess the requirement in two weeks to allow for additional time to confirm a sustained decline in the new COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level to Low and to decrease the chance of needing to quickly reinstate the masking requirement in these facilities.

Flu and RSV also have seen small declines while continuing to spread at elevated levels in Los Angeles County. There was an average of 345 influenza-positive hospitalized patients per day for the week ending Jan. 6, a decrease from the average of 425 influenza-positive hospitalized patients per day the week before. For the week ending Jan. 6, 14.8 percent of specimens tested for influenza at sentinel surveillance laboratories were positive, similar to levels seen at the beginning of December. For the same week, 11 percent of specimens tested for RSV at sentinel surveillance laboratories were positive.

To help reduce the spread of respiratory illness, people experiencing respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, sore throat or fever, should test for COVID-19. If they are positive, they should seek treatment, which can decrease the severity and length of illness and reduce the risk of long COVID. Oral antivirals also are available to reduce the chances of getting very sick from the flu.

One of the best and most effective ways to prevent serious illness remains vaccination. Public Health encourages residents to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine for maximum protection against new strains and waning immunity. It makes sense to also get the flu vaccine in January because a second wave of flu in the early spring is not uncommon. To find a vaccination site, visit myturn.ca.gov.

Free vaccines, at-home test kits and medicines to treat both COVID-19 and flu may be accessed through Public Health, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Call the Public Health InfoLine at 1-833-540-0473 with health-related questions and for help making a telehealth appointment or getting a prescription for COVID-19 medication. The InfoLine is free to use and open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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.