COVID in L.A.

Episodes

Listen 11:08

Apple

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.

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.
Listen 22:38

Apple

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.
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.

Listen 30:28

Apple

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Catherine Le, infectious disease specialist with Cedars-Sinai Medical Group and co-director of the Cedars-Sinai COVID-19 Recovery Program.

Topics today include:

L.A. County urges residents to postpone nonessential gatherings, activities as Omicron surges.

Sonoma County bans gatherings.

With hospitals reeling, California tells COVID-positive medical workers to stay on the job.

Study: California hospitals find that Omicron causes fewer hospitalizations and shorter stays.

With Omicron surge, some wonder whether COVID-19 contact tracing still works.

5 reasons you should not deliberately catch Omicron to "get it over with".

Omicron may be headed for a rapid drop in the U.S. and Britain.

Editorial: L.A. schools are being smart about COVID, but Omicron precautions must be ongoing.

Omicron can make you contagious before you test positive.

What symptoms are associated with Omicron?

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
January 12, 2022 – L.A. County Warns Against Gatherings, Omicron Symptoms, COVID “Parties"
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Catherine Le, infectious disease specialist with Cedars-Sinai Medical Group and co-director of the Cedars-Sinai COVID-19 Recovery Program.

Topics today include:
- L.A. County urges residents to postpone nonessential gatherings, activities as Omicron surges.
  
  Sonoma County bans gatherings.
- With hospitals reeling, California tells COVID-positive medical workers to stay on the job.
- Study: California hospitals find that Omicron causes fewer hospitalizations and shorter stays.
- With Omicron surge, some wonder whether COVID-19 contact tracing still works.
- 5 reasons you should not deliberately catch Omicron to "get it over with".
- Omicron may be headed for a rapid drop in the U.S. and Britain.
- Editorial: L.A. schools are being smart about COVID, but Omicron precautions must be ongoing.
- Omicron can make you contagious before you test positive.
- What symptoms are associated with Omicron?
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Listen 28:07

Apple

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:

L.A. County launches new pick-up PCR testing kit program to help meet demand.

How and where to get free COVID and flu test kits in L.A. County.

Home COVID-19 tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday.

California surpasses 6 million COVID-19 infections as Omicron wave expands.

U.S. COVID-19 hospitalizations reach record high.

How reliable are COVID-19 rapid tests for detecting Omicron?

Spain calls for debate to consider COVID-19 as endemic.

Omicron may infect half of Europeans within weeks, W.H.O. says.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
January 11, 2022 – California Surpasses 6 Million Cases, U.S. Hospitalization Hit Record High
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:
- L.A. County launches new pick-up PCR testing kit program to help meet demand.
  
  How and where to get free COVID and flu test kits in L.A. County.
- Home COVID-19 tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday.
- California surpasses 6 million COVID-19 infections as Omicron wave expands.
- U.S. COVID-19 hospitalizations reach record high.
- How reliable are COVID-19 rapid tests for detecting Omicron?
- Spain calls for debate to consider COVID-19 as endemic.
- Omicron may infect half of Europeans within weeks, W.H.O. says.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Listen 33:25

Apple

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital Dr. Dean Blumberg.

Topics today include:

Governor Newsom activates the National Guard to bolster state’s COVID-19 testing capacity.

Governor Newsom proposes $2.7 billion for COVID-19 response.

L.A. County sets another daily record with more than 45,000 new COVID-19 cases.

Hospitals cut beds as nurses call in sick with COVID-19.

Op-Ed: As an E.R. doctor, I fear health care collapse more than Omicron.

California health officials consider an order to cancel elective surgeries.

New return-to-work guidance for California hospital and skilled nursing employees.

California Nurses Association condemns new guidance.

COVID-19 parties for your kids are still a bad idea.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
January 10, 2022 – Hospitals Stretched Thin, Governor Activates National Guard, L.A. County Sets Case Record
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital Dr. Dean Blumberg.

Topics today include:
- Governor Newsom activates the National Guard to bolster state’s COVID-19 testing capacity.
- Governor Newsom proposes $2.7 billion for COVID-19 response.
- L.A. County sets another daily record with more than 45,000 new COVID-19 cases.
- Hospitals cut beds as nurses call in sick with COVID-19.
- Op-Ed: As an E.R. doctor, I fear health care collapse more than Omicron.
- California health officials consider an order to cancel elective surgeries.
- New return-to-work guidance for California hospital and skilled nursing employees.
  
  California Nurses Association condemns new guidance.
- COVID-19 parties for your kids are still a bad idea.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Listen 35:15

Apple

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with associate professor in the division of infectious diseases at UCLA, Dr. Tara Vijayan.

Topics today include:

Can you reuse KN95 and N95 masks? We look at different cleaning methods.

Possible allergic reactions to vaccines, including rashes and small changes to menstrual cycles.

Four U.C. campuses extend remote instruction through January.

Orange County reports third COVID-19 death of a child younger than 5.

L.A. County reports record 37,000 daily coronavirus cases; what does that mean for the Super Bowl?

When should you go to the E.R. with COVID symptoms?

Unboosted: California COVID-19 booster rate falls below 40% in most counties.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
January 7, 2022 – Record Daily Cases in L.A. County, Universities Extend Remote Learning
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with associate professor in the division of infectious diseases at UCLA, Dr. Tara Vijayan.

Topics today include:
- Can you reuse KN95 and N95 masks? We look at different cleaning methods.
- Possible allergic reactions to vaccines, including rashes and small changes to menstrual cycles.
- Four U.C. campuses extend remote instruction through January.
- Orange County reports third COVID-19 death of a child younger than 5.
- L.A. County reports record 37,000 daily coronavirus cases; what does that mean for the Super Bowl?
- When should you go to the E.R. with COVID symptoms?
- Unboosted: California COVID-19 booster rate falls below 40% in most counties.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Listen 29:48

Apple

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:

California extends statewide indoor masking requirement to February 15.

L.A. County Public Health adds additional masking requirement for indoor employees.

C.D.C. approves Pfizer booster shots for kids 12 and older. L.A. County will start administering them today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations among U.S. children soar.

Schools encounter problems finding enough COVID-19 tests.

Confusion over California’s COVID-19 hospitalization numbers.

Possible allergic reactions to vaccines.

What we know about the new IHU variant.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
January 6, 2022 – California Extends Mask Mandate, C.D.C. Approves Pfizer Booster For Kids 12 And Up
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:
- California extends statewide indoor masking requirement to February 15.
- L.A. County Public Health adds additional masking requirement for indoor employees.
- C.D.C. approves Pfizer booster shots for kids 12 and older. L.A. County will start administering them today.
- COVID-19 hospitalizations among U.S. children soar.
- Schools encounter problems finding enough COVID-19 tests.
- Confusion over California’s COVID-19 hospitalization numbers.
- Possible allergic reactions to vaccines.
- What we know about the new IHU variant.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Listen 33:31

Apple

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with infectious diseases doctor and professor of medicine at UCSF Dr. Monica Gandhi.

Topics today include:

The next few weeks are “absolutely critical” as coronavirus cases explode in California.

“Unprecedented surge” in COVID-19 cases among L.A. police, firefighters.

L.A.’s first case of flurona discovered at Getty Center COVID-19 testing site.

Omicron appears to be milder -- how should that affect our behavior?

Free at-home COVID-19 tests are available in L.A. County but supplies are limited.

L.A. healthcare system hit with widening staffing shortages as workers get coronavirus.

The C.D.C. resists pushback and says a test to get out of COVID isolation isn’t needed.

White House embraces a manage-not-contain Omicron plan.

Fourth Pfizer dose spurs a sharp jump in antibodies, according to early data from Israel.

How safe are indoor gyms during the Omicron surge?

Study finds developmental lag in babies born during the pandemic.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
January 5, 2022 – Coronavirus Cases Surge, First Case of “Flurona,” How Omicron Should Affect Our Behavior
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with infectious diseases doctor and professor of medicine at UCSF Dr. Monica Gandhi.

Topics today include:
- The next few weeks are “absolutely critical” as coronavirus cases explode in California.
- “Unprecedented surge” in COVID-19 cases among L.A. police, firefighters.
- L.A.’s first case of flurona discovered at Getty Center COVID-19 testing site.
- Omicron appears to be milder -- how should that affect our behavior?
- Free at-home COVID-19 tests are available in L.A. County but supplies are limited.
- L.A. healthcare system hit with widening staffing shortages as workers get coronavirus.
- The C.D.C. resists pushback and says a test to get out of COVID isolation isn’t needed.
- White House embraces a manage-not-contain Omicron plan.
- Fourth Pfizer dose spurs a sharp jump in antibodies, according to early data from Israel.
- How safe are indoor gyms during the Omicron surge?
- Study finds developmental lag in babies born during the pandemic.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Listen 30:35

Apple

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:

L.A. County COVID hospitalizations near 2,000 mark as surge rages on.

New coronavirus cases nearly double in Riverside County, hitting 11,639 in past week.

Why so many vaccinated people are getting infected.

OC’s COVID-19 cases up, hospitals busy – but we’re in better shape than earlier surges, experts say.

L.A. Unified orders COVID testing before school resumes amid high Omicron anxiety.

U.S. sets COVID global daily record of over 1 million new cases on Monday.

The unique, ambitious study that the California Public Health Department hopes will beef up its antibody database.

Starbucks imposes COVID-19 vaccination, testing requirements for U.S. workers.

Omicron evades immunity better than Delta, per Danish study.

The Atlantic: “Stop wasting COVID tests, people”.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
January 4, 2022 – U.S. Sets Record With 1 Million New Cases Monday, L.A. Unified Requires Testing Before Classes Resume
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:
- L.A. County COVID hospitalizations near 2,000 mark as surge rages on.
  
  New coronavirus cases nearly double in Riverside County, hitting 11,639 in past week.
  
  Why so many vaccinated people are getting infected.
  
  OC’s COVID-19 cases up, hospitals busy – but we’re in better shape than earlier surges, experts say.
- L.A. Unified orders COVID testing before school resumes amid high Omicron anxiety.
- U.S. sets COVID global daily record of over 1 million new cases on Monday.
- The unique, ambitious study that the California Public Health Department hopes will beef up its antibody database.
- Starbucks imposes COVID-19 vaccination, testing requirements for U.S. workers.
- Omicron evades immunity better than Delta, per Danish study.
- The Atlantic: “Stop wasting COVID tests, people”.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Listen 31:42

Apple

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center.

Topics today include:

L.A. County reports nearly 45,000 new COVID-19 cases over the holiday weekend.

L.A. County coronavirus transmission rate at highest point since early months of pandemic.

Health officials plead with L.A. County residents to ‘act responsibly’.

L.A. County public, private school staff must wear high-grade masks; rules for athletes tighten.

F.D.A. expands Pfizer booster eligibility to kids 12 to 15.

COVID-19 vaccines rarely lead to problems in younger children, according to two C.D.C. reports.

C.D.C. says ‘avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status’.

How this pandemic has left us less prepared for the next one.

Fauci: C.D.C. mulling COVID-19 test requirement for the asymptomatic.

More people are getting unapproved fourth vaccine doses.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
January 3, 2022 – L.A. County’s Transmission Rate Highest Since Early Pandemic Days, F.D.A. OKs Pfizer Booster For Kids 12 to 15
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center.

Topics today include:
- L.A. County reports nearly 45,000 new COVID-19 cases over the holiday weekend.
  
  L.A. County coronavirus transmission rate at highest point since early months of pandemic.
  
  Health officials plead with L.A. County residents to ‘act responsibly’.
  
  L.A. County public, private school staff must wear high-grade masks; rules for athletes tighten.
- F.D.A. expands Pfizer booster eligibility to kids 12 to 15.
- COVID-19 vaccines rarely lead to problems in younger children, according to two C.D.C. reports.
- C.D.C. says ‘avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status’.
- How this pandemic has left us less prepared for the next one.
- Fauci: C.D.C. mulling COVID-19 test requirement for the asymptomatic.
- More people are getting unapproved fourth vaccine doses.
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.

Show Host

Support the COVID in L.A. podcast today

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COVID in L.A.

Show Host

Support the COVID in L.A. podcast today