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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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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 • 20:35
    Listen • 20:35
    March 16, 2022 – Europe Surge Is A Warning To California, What We’re Learning From Sewer Data
    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: 



    • Coronavirus cases are rising in Europe. Is it a warning for California? 

    • Coronavirus positive test rate in California is 1.5%, lowest since before summer’s Delta surge. 
    • As data mounts, the J&J vaccine holds its own. 
    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 • 30:23
    Listen • 30:23
    March 15, 2022 – Pfizer Says 4th Dose of COVID Shot Will Be Needed, Cases Surge Abroad
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. 



    Topics today include: 



    • Pfizer’s CEO says a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be needed. Pfizer is working on a shot to handle all variants. 

    • Merck’s COVID-19 pill heavily used so far despite concerns.  
    • The latest surge in Asia and Europe. 
    • White House says funding is running out for COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment programs.
    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 • 19:27
    Listen • 19:27
    March 14, 2022 – California’s School Mask Mandate Ends, “Deltacron,” Hospitalizations Hit Lowest Level Since Summer
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center. 


    Topics today include: 



    • Many schools in L.A. County drop COVID-era masking mandates on Monday. 

      • California’s great COVID pivot: Pandemic policies expire. 
    • L.A. County’s COVID hospitalizations hit lowest level since last July. 
    • What is “Deltacron”? 
    • How will L.A. County find warning signs of the next coronavirus surge? 
    • Which coronavirus vaccine will work in the youngest children? 
    • As COVID-19 fades, what does it mean to end the pandemic health emergency? 
    • Pfizer’s CEO says a 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be needed, but the company is working on a shot to handle all variants. 
    • China orders 51 million people into lockdown as COVID surges. 
    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 • 17:57
    Listen • 17:57
    March 10, 2022 – Mask Mandate for Flights Extended, California Braces For Long COVID Impacts
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Shruti Gohil, professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine. 

    Topics today include:



    • Mask mandate extended for airline flights and on public transportation until April 18. 
    • What are your potential risks at gyms, indoor dining, grocery stores as COVID cases fall and rules relax? 
    • L.A. County works to expand awareness of oral therapeutics to treat COVID-19. 
    • California braces for long COVID. 
    • Vaccine verification mandates: 

      • L.A. moves to lift vaccine verification mandate at indoor businesses. 
      • San Francisco’s vaccine verification mandate ends Friday, but many restaurants  will still check cards. 
    • Germany posts a one-day record in cases even as it plans to lift restrictions. 
    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 • 17:54
    Listen • 17:54
    March 9, 2022 – School Mask Mandate Ends Friday, California Surpasses 9 million Coronavirus Cases, WHO Endorses Boosters
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Paul Adamson, infectious diseases physician and assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 



    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 • 20:49
    Listen • 20:49
    March 8, 2022 – What A New Study Found About How COVID Can Change Our Brain, Florida’s Recommends Against COVID Vaccines For Healthy Kids
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Kristen R. Choi, professor of nursing and public health at UCLA, and a registered nurse practicing at Gateways Hospital based in Echo Park. 



    Topics today include: 



    • New study finds COVID may cause changes in the brain. 
    • Florida will recommend against COVID vaccines for healthy children in contradiction of federal guidance. 
    • U.S. government will offer a second round of free COVID tests to all Americans. 
    • Is California’s mask mandate ending too soon for kids? 
    • Going to a concert? What to know about the new L.A. COVID rules. 

    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 • 17:52
    Listen • 17:52
    March 7, 2022 – World Surpasses 6 Million COVID Deaths, Mask Mandates For Kids
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg, professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. 

    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 • 20:02
    Listen • 20:02
    March 3, 2022 – New Slate Of California COVID-19 Laws Proposed, Biden’s New Pandemic Plan
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Robert-Kim Farley, professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. 



    Topics today include: 



    • New COVID-19 cases in California have dropped more than 95% since the peak of the Omicron surge. 
    • WHO: COVID-19 cases, deaths continue to fall globally. 
    • California legislators propose new slate of COVID-19 vaccine laws. 
    • C.D.C. apparently misjudged California’s COVID-19 risks by relying on outdated numbers. 
    • Wealth, poverty, and race continue to affect the toll COVID-19 takes on different L.A. County communities. 
    • New Biden pandemic plan: Closer to normal for the nation. 

    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
STAFF-HEADSHOTS-2023
Larry Mantle
Host, AirTalk