Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Donate

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Donate
Podcasts
COVID in L.A.
COVID in L.A.
()
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
()

Get LA News Updates Daily

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
LAist Studios relies on listener support to power the podcasts you love.
  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 25:36
    Listen • 25:36
    March 2, 2022 – Another Round Of Free At-Home Tests, Latest News From The CDC
    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 unveils its strategy for next phase of pandemic. 

      • Another round of free at-home tests will become available next week for Americans. 
      • Biden administration to launch initiative making antiviral pills free for those COVID-19 positive. 
    • LAist: LA County's Mask Mandate Could End For Everyone, Regardless Of Vaccination Status, As Soon As Friday. 
    • Latest from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 

      • C.D.C study finds vaccine protection decreases in adolescents after 5 months. 
      • Universal case investigation and contact tracing no longer recommended. 
      • Estimates show 140 million COVID-19 infections in the United States. 
    • NYT Opinion: “We’ve Entered a New Phase of the Pandemic. It’s Time for New Metrics.” 
    • California nears 75% vaccination rate against COVID-19. 

    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 • 35:34
    Listen • 35:34
    March 1, 2022 – School Mask Requirement To Disappear In California, Strategies For One-Way Masking
    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: 



    • California will end the school mask requirement after March 11 – and L.A. County will, too. 
    • Starting today, masks are no longer required indoors for unvaccinated workers in California. 
    • Coronavirus FAQ: I’m a one-way masker. What strategy will give me optimal protection? 
    • A new poll finds Americans’ fears about the virus are waning.  
    • Data out of New York finds Pfizer’s shot is far less effective in 5-to-11-year-olds than in older kids. 

    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 • 18:55
    Listen • 18:55
    February 28, 2022 – L.A. County COVID Hospitalizations Drop, California To Adjust School Mask Rules
    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: 



    • L.A. County's COVID hospitalizations fall below 1,000 for the first time since December. 
    • Gov. Newsom scales back California’s COVID orders but not the state of emergency. 
    • California to announce new school mask rules today. 
    • New York City to end mandates for school masks and indoor proof of vaccination. 
    • C.D.C. suggests more time between 1st and 2nd COVID vaccine doses for males ages 12 to 39 because of myocarditis. 
    • Two Orange County teens died of COVID-19, underscoring Omicrons’ toll on kids. 
    • What we know about the BA.2 Omicron variant. 

    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 • 21:43
    Listen • 21:43
    February 25, 2022 – C.D.C To Loosen Masking Guidelines, L.A. County To Lift Indoor Mask Mandate For Vaccinated
    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 • 20:39
    Listen • 20:39
    February 23, 2022 – L.A. County To Lift Indoor Mask Mandate For Vaccinated, Who Might Benefit From A Fourth Shot
    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. 



    Topics today include: 



    • L.A. County to lift indoor mask mandate for vaccinated people on Friday. 

      • L.A. Unified drops outdoor mask mandate. 
    • The U.S. mask mandate for air travel will expire next month, but some flight attendants say it’s too soon. 
    • A new COVID vaccine shows 100% efficacy against severe disease and hospitalizations, its maker says. 
    • Yes, millions of Americans have caught Omicron. No, we don’t have herd immunity. 
    • Who might benefit from a fourth shot – and who might not. 

    • New breakdown of hospitalized patients in California hospitals by vaccination status. 
    • How Long COVID exhausts the body. 

    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 • 34:29
    Listen • 34:29
    February 18, 2022 – Why The F.D.A. Delayed Review Of Vaccines For Kids Under 5, BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Appears More Severe
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle talks about the new plan and where California goes from here with Jackie Fortiér, health reporter for KPCC & LAist and speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg, professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. 



    Topics today include: 



    • California's new plans for the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic. 
    • WSJ: Lower Omicron efficacy delayed F.D.A. review on Pfizer shot in kids under 5. 
    • Lab studies point to signs of severity with the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron. 
    • Orange County hospitalizations dip below 400 patients for the first time since December. 
    • As California unveils its endemic strategy, here's what other western states are doing: 

      • Washington State to drop mask mandate, including for schools, next month. 
      • New Mexico to end indoor mask mandate immediately. 
    • U.S. ramping up vaccination assistance to 11 African countries. 

    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 • 21:55
    Listen • 21:55
    February 17, 2022 – L.A. County Surpasses 30,000 Deaths, Cases Plummet Across The Country
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Timothy Brewer, epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s school of public health. 


    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 • 17:02
    Listen • 17:02
    February 16, 2022 – L.A. County Lifts Outdoor Mask Mandate, Disneyland Follows Suit For Vaccinated Guests
    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: 



    • L.A. County lifts outdoor mask mandate. 
    • Disneyland lifts mask requirement for vaccinated guests. 
    • C.D.C. expected to update mask guidance as early as next week. 
    • Coachella, Stagecoach festivals won’t require COVID-19 vaccination, tests, or masks. 

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

Show More Episodes
Credits
Headshot of Larry Mantle
Larry Mantle
Host, AirTalk