Public Health Reports Small Signs of Increasing COVID-19 Transmission; Recommends Common-Sense Precautions

With small increases in the number of reported COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reminds residents to consider taking common-sense precautions, especially for people at highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Public Health data shows increases in reported COVID-19 cases, virus concentrations in wastewater and the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests, possibly the result of high levels of exposure during Fourth of July festivities, summer travel and the unusually high temperatures that are keeping people indoors more often.

For the past three summers, Los Angeles County has experienced a summer COVID-19 surge.  Beginning in mid-July 2021, cases and hospitalizations increased relatively sharply. In contrast, in 2022, cases and hospitalizations had already begun to rise by May 1, however the increase was more gradual.

This week, Public Health reports 2,034 new COVID-19 cases, a 32% increase from the 1,544 cases reported last week. While helpful to indicate larger trends, cases are an undercount of the true number of infections due to the large number of at-home COVID test results that are not reported to Public Health.

Wastewater concentrations of SARS CoV-2, the virus that results in a COVID-19 infection, are at 10% of the most recent winter peak for the week ending July 8, a slight increase from the 8% that was recorded for each of the previous three weeks. The test positivity rate, which does not include home tests, increased to 7.5% as of July 15, up from 5.1% one month earlier.

This month, Public Health also is reporting more new outbreaks in skilled nursing facilities, where residents are more susceptible to severe illness and death from COVID-19. For the week ending July 18, Public Health opened 11 outbreak investigations, similar to the 12 outbreak investigations opened the week before. By comparison, one month ago, for the week ending June 20, four new outbreaks were opened.

While COVID-19 transmission patterns continue to evolve, it is important that county residents take simple precautions to reduce transmission. This includes testing if exposed to COVID-19 or if experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness, including sore throat, cough or fever. Information about testing, including where to get free tests, is available at ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests.

Treatments for COVID-19 continue to be widely available in Los Angeles County. However, these medications are only effective if taken within five days of symptom onset. To get treatment or speak to a provider contact the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473, from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.