{"id":46861,"date":"2022-04-01T15:18:53","date_gmt":"2022-04-01T22:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=46861"},"modified":"2022-04-01T15:18:53","modified_gmt":"2022-04-01T22:18:53","slug":"as-cases-no-longer-decline-wastewater-surveillance-critical-to-la-county-preparedness-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=46861","title":{"rendered":"As Cases No Longer Decline, Wastewater Surveillance Critical to LA County Preparedness Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

1,167 New Positive Cases and 16 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County<\/em><\/h3>\n

With the number of new cases no longer declining, Public Health continues monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in several wastewater samples to help foreshadow sustained increases or decreases in transmission. Wastewater surveillance is a community-level approach that monitors disease patterns using biomarkers excreted in human urine and feces and collected in sewers which can identify the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus shed by both symptomatic and asymptomatic people. Because this surveillance can detect increases in the presence of the virus across large geographic areas, the COVID-19 wastewater signal may be a leading indicator that precedes trends in confirmed cases and hospitalizations.<\/p>\n

Wastewater collection and testing are being conducted at least three times per week, by three agencies across the County: LA City Sanitation and Environment, LA County Sanitation Districts, and the Las Virgenes Municipal Water Districts.<\/p>\n

Recent data from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, which covers the areas of South, Southeast and East Los Angeles, does not show, as of March 16, a significant concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater for this area.<\/p>\n

A second agency, the Los Angeles City Sanitation and Environment Agency, which covers portions of central LA County, parts of the San Fernando Valley, and West Los Angeles, showed small increases in the concentration of virus the first two weeks of March, which will need close monitoring over the next couple of weeks to determine if this is the beginning of an upward trend.<\/p>\n

A third wastewater source is from the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District in the West San Fernando Valley. This surveillance data also shows a small uptick in virus concentration in mid-March. However, the increase is too small to make definitive conclusions about whether these communities are also beginning to see more virus transmission.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor everyone mourning the loss of a loved one from COVID-19, we extend our deepest sympathies,\u201d said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. \u201cOur Early Alert Signals help us identify areas of concern early on so that we can realign our strategies in order to slow COVID-19 transmission or prevent or contain outbreaks. With multiple metrics reviewed each week, including concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, it is much easier to take appropriate actions to both try and prevent stress on the healthcare system and the tragic consequences associated with severe illness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Public Health reported 16 additional deaths, and 1,167 new positive cases of COVID-19. Of the 16 new deaths reported today, three people were between the ages of 50-64, five were between the ages of 65-79, and eight were aged 80 years or older. Of the 16 newly reported deaths, 11 people had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 31,683.<\/p>\n

Public Health has reported a total of 2,834,317 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today\u2019s positivity rate is 0.9%.<\/p>\n

There are 287 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 11,697,100 individuals, with 22% of people testing positive.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0http:\/\/www.publichealth.lacounty.gov<\/a>\u00a0including:<\/p>\n