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Podcasts
COVID in L.A.
COVID in L.A.
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COVID in L.A.
The daily COVID-19 update from KPCC and LAist, hosted by AirTalk's Larry Mantle.

About the Show

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, we've had a daily segment on AirTalk devoted to bringing you the latest information about COVID-19, vaccines, and how the virus and pandemic have affected the lives of Southern Californians from the doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, and other medical professionals fighting the virus on the frontlines. In each episode of this podcast, we’ll speak with one of the experts on our rotating panel of guests who share their expertise with us each day.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Funding provided by:

Corporation for Public Broadcasting
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We brief you on what you need to know about L.A. today.
Episodes
  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 11:08
    Listen • 11:08
    How to Save Water
    California is in a drought -- again. LAist’s new show How to LA explores what more Angelenos can do to preserve water. It won't be easy, but we meet up with one long-time resident who shows us how it's possible. Follow How to LA; the show aims to drop a little knowledge about ALL the things that affect the people of Los Angeles, whether that’s something that makes our city great (tacos!) or something that we need to work on, like the alarming number of traffic collisions. We serve the curious Angeleno who wants to better connect with our city, discover the new, navigate the confusing and even drive some change along the way.


    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 22:38
    Listen • 22:38
    April 18, 2022 – California Ditches Vaccine Requirement For Kids, How At-Home Tests Are Affecting Case Counts, Breath Test To Detect COVID
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of the department of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 

    Topics today include: 

    • White House Covid response coordinator: Americans over 60 should get second booster. 
    • With the rise in at-home testing, are we undercounting COVID-19 cases even more than before?  
    • COVID hospitalizations fall to 213 in L.A. County. 
    • California will not require COVID vaccines for children this fall. 
    • BA.2 is spreading in the U.S. but people are over it. 
    • FDA authorizes first breath test to detect coronavirus. 

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

Support The COVID in LA podcast today
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  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 24:45
    Listen • 24:45
    November 29, 2021 – What We Do And Don’t Know About The Omicron Variant, And More
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg, professor medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.


    Topics today include:



    • Omicron variant spreads around the world

      • How big a threat is the Omicron variant? W.H.O. warns it poses a “very high” global risk
      • How the Omicron variant rattled the world in one week 
      • Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna expect data on their vaccines’ protections against the new variant soon 
      • What California is doing to defend against the Omicron variant 
      • Video: Where do variants come from? 
      • In naming the Omicron variant, authorities skipped “xi” and “nu”
    • Merck updates data on the effectiveness of its COVID-19 pill
    • Enforcement of L.A.’s COVID vaccine mandate for indoor businesses starts today 
    • Is California in a better place this year than we were this time last year? 
    • How Puerto Rico became the most vaccinated place in America 

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 25:59
    Listen • 25:59
    November 23, 2021 – Cases Up About 30% This Month, Vaccine Immunity More Consistent Than Infection Immunity, And More
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, guest host Sharon McNary speaks with director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital, Dr. Kimberly Shriner. 

    Topics today include:



    • Many seemingly worrying COVID-19 vaccine reactions are common and harmless
    • CDC finds that vaccine immunity is more consistent than immunity gained from infection
    • About 44,000 LAUSD students missed their first vaccine deadline
    • COVID-19 booster shot uptake is lower in the hardest-hit LA County ZIP codes
    • COVID-19 cases up 32% in kids from two weeks ago
    • What you should make of the latest COVID-19 surge 

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 25:11
    Listen • 25:11
    November 22, 2021 – How To Safely Gather During Thanksgiving, CDC Approves Booster Shots For All Adults, And More
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, guest host Sharon McNary speaks with Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of the department of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 

    Topics today include:



    • The CDC has approved COVID-19 booster shots for all U.S. adults
    • The most vulnerable groups face the biggest risk of breakthrough hospitalizations
    • White House says 95% of the federal workforce has met the administration's vaccine mandate
    • A CDC study has found the delta variant is linked to an increased risk of stillbirth
    • What you can do to celebrate Thanksgiving safely
      • Dr. Anthony Fauci says fully vaccinated family members can gather without masks
      • Holiday season expected to strain COVID-19 home test supply
    • More than 1 in 10 children ages 5-11 in California have received a vaccine shot

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 22:35
    Listen • 22:35
    November 18, 2021 – Thanksgiving Travel, Booster Shots, and Vaccinating L.A. Students
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with UCSF’s Dr. Peter Chin-Hong.


    Topics today include:



    • The TSA expects Thanksgiving air travel to return to near pre-pandemic levels
    • LAUSD will offer $5 million in incentives for getting vaccinated
    • OSHA is pausing enforcement of its vaccine mandate over a court stay
    • FDA could authorize Moderna vaccine boosters for all adults this week

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 26:01
    Listen • 26:01
    November 17, 2021 – Pfizer Boosters For All Adults Could Be Coming Soon, Requirements For LAUSD Students In Spring 2022 And More
    In today's episode: Pfizer Boosters For All Adults Could Be Coming Soon, Requirements For LAUSD Students In Spring 2022 And More

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 24:11
    Listen • 24:11
    November 16, 2021 – 70% Of Californians Have Gotten Vaccine, Other Manufacturers Allowed To Make Pfizer’s COVID-19 Pill & More
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Timothy Brewer, M.D., epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s school of public health.



    Topics today include:



    • 70% of Californians have received at least one vaccine dose 
    • Pfizer to allow other companies to make its COVID-19 pill in developing countries 

    • L.A. officials worry that those vaccinated earlier this year could be hit in winter surge 
    • CDC adds Hungary, Iceland, the Czech Republic and Guernsey to its level 4 warning list 

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 26:00
    Listen • 26:00
    November 15, 2021 – Experts Worry About Potential COVID-19 Swell In CA, Europe Battling Surge And More
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of the department of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.



    Topics today include:




    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 21:25
    Listen • 21:25
    November 12, 2021 – All Californians 18 And Over Can Get A Booster, What We Know About Waning Vaccine Effectiveness, And More
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Austin Cross speaks with UCSF’s Dr. Peter Chin-Hong.

    Topics today include:



    • All Californians 18 and over are now eligible for a booster shot
    • Booster shots are most popular in poorly vaccinated states where coronavirus rages
    • Orange County sees robust demand for child COVID-19 vaccines

      • Should an 11-year-old wait to get the bigger COVID-19 dose?
    • What we know so far about waning vaccine effectiveness
    • CDC shifts pandemic goals away from reaching herd immunity

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

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Credits
Headshot of Larry Mantle
Larry Mantle
Host of AirTalk with Larry Mantle and FilmWeek