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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
LAist Studios relies on listener support to power the podcasts you love.
  • COVID in L.A.
    Listen • 29:17
    Listen • 29:17
    January 25, 2022 – Pfizer Starts Testing Omicron-Specific Vaccines, L.A. County Omicron Deaths Rise
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with infectious diseases physician and assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Paul Adamson. 


    Topics today include: 



    • Pfizer begins testing Omicron-matched COVID-19 vaccines in adults. 
    • F.D.A. halts use of antibody drugs that don’t work versus Omicron. 
    • L.A. County seeing more deaths from Omicron. 
    • “Mild” but still deadly: Omicron may kill tens of thousands more Americans by March. 
    • Omicron is spreading. How should we respond now? 
    • Coronavirus tests from the U.S. government have started to arrive at homes. 

    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 • 31:16
    Listen • 31:16
    January 24, 2022 – L.A. County Hospitalizations Decline, Fauci Suggests Omicron Wave Is Peaking, L.A. Student Mask Requirement
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. 


    Topics today include: 



    • COVID-19 still spreading widely in L.A. County, though signs of decline continue. 
    • L.A. County reports third straight drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations. 
    • Fauci suggests Omicron wave is peaking, but warns of “more pain” to come. 
    • WHO chief warns against talk of “endgame” in pandemic. 
    • Data from UCSF sheds light on how many COVID-related hospitalizations are “for” COVID or “with” COVID. 
    • At California hospitals, many children are coming in with COVID, not for COVID. 
    • New bill would require all California school children be vaccinated against COVID-19. 
    • LAUSD to require students to wear non-cloth masks starting Monday. 

    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 • 29:03
    Listen • 29:03
    January 21, 2022 – Studies Show Boosters Protect Best Against Omicron, L.A. County Sees Deadliest Day Since March 2021
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with registered nurse and professor of nursing and public health at UCLA, Kristen R. Choi. 



    Topics today include: 



    • C.D.C. studies show boosters provide the best protection against the Omicron variant. 
    • Post-infection immunity was very effective against Delta, but C.D.C. says vaccines still offer the best defense. 
    • L.A. County reports 102 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, the deadliest pandemic day since March 2021. 
    • Coronavirus transmission rates are falling across California. 
    • Fauci says the F.D.A. could authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5 in the next month. 
    • UCSF scientists detect anomalies in people with post-COVID “brain fog”. 
    • Europe considers new COVID-19 strategy: Accepting the virus. 
    • L.A. schools see coronavirus rates decline. 

    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 • 30:06
    Listen • 30:06
    January 20, 2022 – Test Result Timelines, Breakthrough Infections, Latest On Hospital Conditions
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with infectious diseases physician and professor of medicine at UCSF Dr. Monica Gandhi. 



    Topics today include: 



    • C.D.C. says post-infection immunity was very effective against Delta, but vaccines still offer the best defense. 
    • Omicron leaves testing labs overwhelmed, causing frustrating delays to get results. 
    • Even as Omicron starts to ease in California, hospitals facing grim conditions. 
    • California approaches pandemic record for all hospitalizations. 
    • Why are men more likely to die of COVID-19? It’s complicated. 
    • Can vaccinated people who get a breakthrough infection start living like it’s 2019? 
    • As L.A. schools backtrack on COVID vaccine, dozens more districts push to mandate it. 

    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 • 17:19
    Listen • 17:19
    January 19, 2022 – Researchers Say L.A. Surge Is Peaking, U.S. Will Distribute Free N95 Masks
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with infectious disease specialist and co-director of the Cedars-Sinai COVID-19 Recovery Program Dr. Catherine Le. 



    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 • 31:30
    Listen • 31:30
    January 18, 2022 – 4th Vaccine Dose Shows Limited Results, Ordering At-Home Tests, Contact Tracing
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, we speak with the director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena Dr. Kimberly Shriner. 


    Today’s topics 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 • 46:41
    Listen • 46:41
    January 14, 2022 – When Omicron Surge Might Peak, Upgrading Your Mask
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. 


    Topics today include: 



    • California Omicron surge expected to peak within weeks. 
    • New virus cases begin to slow in U.S. cities where Omicron hit first. 
    • Starting Monday, L.A. County employers will be required to provide medical grade masks in the workplace. 
    • Biden to double at-home COVID tests for Americans. 
    • Here’s one critical thing to check before you buy or use a rapid home COVID test.  

    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 • 33:02
    Listen • 33:02
    January 13, 2022 – Stress On Hospitals Grows, Low Vaccination Rates Among Kids, COVID-19 Pill Shortages
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s school of public health, Dr. Timothy Brewer. 



    Topics today include: 




    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, AirTalk