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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 • 24:10
    Listen • 24:10
    December 23, 2021 – FDA Authorizes Merck’s Pill, Changing Definition Of “Fully Vaccinated,”
    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:




    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 • 32:05
    Listen • 32:05
    December 22, 2021 – Omicron Cases Rise, Growing Demand For Testing, Concern About Holiday Gatherings
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, guest host Austin Cross speaks with UCLA epidemiologist and professor of medicine Dr. Timothy Brewer. 



    Topics today include: 



    • Should I change holiday plans due to the Omicron variant and possible surge? 
    • Biden to address the nation about the Omicron variant on Tuesday. 
    • L.A. County sees highest daily COVID-19 cases since August. 
    • Moderna says COVID-19 booster dose works against Omicron variant in lab tests. 
    • Is that a sniffle or cold or COVID-19? 
    • Most of the world’s vaccines likely won’t prevent infection from Omicron. 
    • Affordable coronavirus tests are out there, if you look. 
    • Long lines for COVID-19 testing as Omicron variant looms. 
    • Omicron may sideline two leading drugs against COVID-19. 
    • Latest on Pfizer’s trials for a vaccine for kids under 5. 
    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 • 32:59
    Listen • 32:59
    December 21, 2021 – COVID-19 AMA: Omicron Becomes U.S. Dominant Variant, Free At-Home Tests Planned, And More
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, guest host Austin Cross speaks with the director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital Dr. Kimberly Shriner. 



    Topics today include: 



    • Multiple nations announce new rules over gatherings and travel ahead of holidays. 
    • The Omicron variant now makes up 73% of new cases in the U.S. 
    • Biden’s Omicron plan to include 500 million free at-home tests. 
    • Tips for staying safe while flying over the holidays. 

    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 • 22:34
    Listen • 22:34
    December 17, 2021 – CDC Panel Says Pfizer, Moderna Shots Recommended Over J&J, Concerns Continue Over Winter Surge
    In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Cedars-Sinai Medical Group Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Catherine Le. 


    Topics today include: 



    • Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should be recommended over J&J, CDC panel says. 
    • COVID-19 hospitalizations jump in Southern California as Omicron alarms grow. 
    • L.A. County tightens rules for mega events as COVID case numbers rise. 
    • Regeneron and AstraZeneca give mixed results on potency of coronavirus antibody cocktails against omicron. 
    • Delta, Omicron cases could overwhelm hospitals within weeks. 
    • Center Theatre Group’s performance of “A Christmas Carol” on Thursday was canceled over COVID-19 issues. 
    • Upcoming UCLA men’s basketball game on Saturday canceled over COVID-19 issues. 
    • CDC endorses schools’ coronavirus “test-to-stay” policies. 

    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 • 25:57
    Listen • 25:57
    December 16, 2021 – Omicron Spreads In California, Will We Always Need Boosters
    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: 

    • Omicron variant spreads in CA as mask order takes effect. 
    • Will we always need COVID-19 boosters? 
    • Broadway is canceling shows due to positive tests, and we’ve heard about the uptick in positive cases among athletes, too.  
      • Is there something about these environments that just makes transmission more likely? 
      • Are infections inevitable in an environment like this at this point in the pandemic as other things are opening more? 
    • Met Opera to require booster shots for staff and audience and the shifting definition of “fully-vaccinated”. 
    • L.A. County falls far behind Bay Area in vaccinating Black, Latino residents. 

    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 • 16:12
    Listen • 16:12
    December 15, 2021 – U.S. Surpasses 50 Million Confirmed Cases, Omicron Spreads Faster Than Any Other Variant
    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:  



    • C.D.C warns Omicron is spreading rapidly in the U.S. and could bring a punishing wave as soon as January. 
    • Colleges are going back to drawing board again to fight COVID-19. 
    • Omicron is spreading faster than any other coronavirus variant. 
    • Why do we get side effects from vaccines? 
    • More than 50 million total coronavirus cases have been found in the U.S. 

    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 • 24:40
    Listen • 24:40
    December 14, 2021 – California’s New (Again) Mask Mandate, New Study On Effects Of Omicron Variant
    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: 



    • California, once again, mandates masks. 
    • California Dept. of Public Health provides updates guidelines for mega events.
    • South African study finds omicron variant is more vaccine-resistant but causes less severe COVID.
    • Pfizer says its anti-COVID pill prevents severe illness and should work against omicron variant.
    • Looking back on one year of vaccines. 
    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 • 28:59
    Listen • 28:59
    December 13, 2021 – U.S. Records 800,000 COVID Deaths, One Year Since Vaccinations Began, Vaccine Effectiveness
    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: 



    • At least 800,000 Americans have now died of COVID-19. 
    • One year after the first COVID-19 vaccinations, where have we come and where do we have to go? 
    • U.K. reports first death from the Omicron variant. 
    • Omicron was in California weeks before officials raised alarms, water samples suggest. 
    • What we know so far about the effectiveness of today’s vaccines against Omicron. 

      • Two vaccine doses doesn’t stop you from getting Omicron. 
      • Israeli study: Pfizer booster protects against Omicron. 
    • LAUSD to delay vaccination mandate. 
    • NYT op-ed: Will COVID evolve to be milder?
    • As California’s COVID cases rise, antibody treatments go unused. 

    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