Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA Public Health Strongly Recommends Masks As Viral Infections Increase
COVID-19 cases and hospitalization in L.A. County have increased since Oct. 2022. While cases are ticking up, the most recent peak was in July, 2022.
(
Courtesy L.A. County Dept. of Public Health
)
COVID-19 cases are again rising and new variants are emerging. L.A. County is now recording more than100 cases a week for every 100,000 residents, up from a low of 60 in October. Hitting that benchmark caused masks to be “strongly recommended” by local health officials. That's a step up from the previous "recommended" language.
How Bad Is It?
A trio of viruses (COVID-19, flu and RSV) has made for a difficult respiratory virus season already. L.A. County is still in the CDC’s low community level, but new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing. At the same time, the convergence of high flu and RSV cases have sent record numbers of babies and young children to hospitals.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, State Secretary of Health and Human Services told reporters Thursday “in every category that we track…we’re seeing increases in RSV, flu and COVID. We have experienced levels of test positivity for our youngest Californians that rival peaks in other years.” Last week, state health officials reported the first death of a child under 5 years old due to RSV and flu this season.
Support for LAist comes from
The Impact On Hospitals
Health officials said emergency rooms and hospitals are starting to work at capacity, especially at pediatric intensive care units. So far, hospitals in L.A. County have been able to handle the increase in both pediatric and adult hospitalizations.
Triage Tents And Boosters
Ghaly said he expects to soon see white triage tents outside hospitals across California, in what has become an annual indicator of hospital stress. Low COVID-19 booster uptake is compounding the problem. In L.A. County, just 14% of eligible people have gotten the shot.
Break Out The Masks
Moving into winter, the typical advice still applies: wear an N95 mask in public, stay up to date on vaccines, hold gatherings outside whenever possible, and take a rapid COVID-19 test before parties. “It’s not too late to get vaccinated before Thanksgiving, you’ll have some protection if you do it now,” said L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist