New “Pick-Up Testing Kit” Program to Help Meet COVID-19 Surge Demand
Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations for the Public (not applicable to healthcare personnel)
Upgrade Your Mask for Better Protection Against Omicron
New Mask Requirements for Employers Effective January 17
Booster Doses Now Available for Everyone Ages 12+
Avoid Hospital Emergency Rooms Unless Emergency Medical Care is Needed
COVID-19 Counts in Culver City and LA County
1. Community Transmission of COVID-19 is Increasing
Community transmission levels of COVID-19 are high in LA County. Vaccinate, boost, get tested, and wear a well-fitting mask, to help slow the spread and remain protected. Visit the Vaccinate LA County website to find a vaccination site near you.
2. New “Pick-Up Testing Kit” Program to Help Meet COVID-19 Surge Demand
LA County Department of Health Services launched a new program designed to increase and facilitate access to COVID-19 tests for LA County residents unable to obtain appointments. The program will allow residents to pick up a PCR test kit, perform the test, and return the completed kit to designated locations for processing. Residents will be notified of their test results within 24-48 hours.
The Pick-Up Testing Kit program is the latest in a series of LA County efforts designed to expand testing capacity as demand grows across the county. Recent efforts to increase capacity include increasing the days and hours of operation for existing sites, adding mobile testing units, and providing intermittent availability of Home Testing Kits via mail.
The new Pick-Up Testing Kit program will operate at 13 testing sites across LA County. Pick-Up Test Kits will be available without an appointment and until daily supplies are exhausted. The Pick-Up Testing Kits will test for both COVID-19 and Influenza (A and B), the same as all LA County operated testing locations.
The City of Culver City recommends testing sites approved by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. All testing locations listed within the County testing website offer COVID-19 tests at no out-of-pocket cost, regardless of insurance coverage or immigration status.
It is important that LA County and Culver City residents understand that not all COVID-19 testing sites within the LA County region are affiliated or operated by LA County. COVID-19 testing sites are also being operated by private companies, private health care systems and local municipalities and some of these privately operated sites do charge for their testing services.
There are approximately 260 COVID-19 testing locations listed in the LA County COVID-19 testing site, of those, the County operates about 66 community sites and 7 State sites. The remaining locations are operated by testing partners.
Testing partner sites listed on LA County’s website are sites that have been pre-screened by LA County to ensure that they offer testing with no out-of-pocket cost, regardless of health insurance or immigration status and that they offer testing using a test approved by the FDA.
LA County does not have oversight over testing sites not directly operated by the LA County Department of Health Services.
Other Ways to Get Tested
At your doctor's office. If you need help finding a doctor, call 2-1-1 or visit 211LA
In a pharmacy. Many pharmacies offer free COVID-19 viral tests. Call or visit the website of your local pharmacy for details.
At home. Home collection kits and self-tests kits are available by prescription and over the counter (OTC). For home collection kits, you collect the sample at home and then send it to a lab or test site for processing. For self-tests kits, you collect the sample and do the test yourself. Visit the CDC self-testing website to learn more.
3. Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations for the Public (not applicable to healthcare personnel)
In Los Angeles County, if you have COVID-19, you are required to isolate yourself, wear a mask indoors and outdoors, and tell your close contacts that they have been exposed. Regardless of vaccination status, previous infection or lack of symptoms, you must stay home for at least five days. Persons are considered to have COVID-19 if they have a positive viral test and/or their healthcare provider thinks they have COVID-19.
4. Upgrade Your Mask for Better Protection Against Omicron
Upgrade your mask to higher-level medical- or surgical-grade mask to reduce the risk of catching and transmitting COVID-19. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommends double masking with a fitted medical-grade mask and cloth mask, or wearing any of the following well-fitting masks for the best protection: fitted medical-grade mask, KF94, N95, or KN95.
5. New Mask Requirements for Employers Effective January 17
As soon as possible, but no later than January 17, 2022, employers are required to provide their employees who work indoors and in close contact with other workers or the public, with and require them to wear a well-fitting medical grade mask, surgical mask or higher-level respirator, such as an N95 or KN95, at all times while indoors at the worksite or facility.
6. Booster Doses Now Available for Everyone Ages 12+
Kids ages 12+ can now get a booster! Getting vaccinated/boosted will help keep them safe and prevent community transmission. 12-17 year-olds are eligible only for a Pfizer booster five months after their second dose.
To find a vaccination site near you, visit the Vaccinate LA County website. If you or someone you know doesn’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or is over 65, call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if homebound.
7. Avoid Hospital Emergency Rooms Unless Emergency Medical Care is Needed
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services is urging patients with mild COVID-19 infections or the flu to avoid the Emergency Room and seek care in more appropriate settings such as urgent care clinics or primary care offices. If you're seeking COVID-19 testing, visit a community testing site or your primary care physician to determine your COVID-19 status. Hospital testing for COVID-19 is for patients with serious symptoms, those who are to be admitted or others as determined by the emergency department staff.
8. COVID-19 Counts in Culver City and LA County
The City of Culver City mourns the loss ofresidents who have passed awaydue to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Case and Death Counts – as of January 12, 2022
Cases in Culver City – 5,264
Deaths in Culver City – 119
Cases in LA County – 40,452 new cases (2,084,581 cases to date)
Deaths in LA County – 39 new deaths (27,850 deaths to date)
We want you to know that we are here for you. If you or another Culver City resident would like a check-in call for a quick chat, let us know. Our friendly City staff are making weekly phone calls to any residents 18 and older just to say “hi," see how you are doing, or offer information and resources. You don’t need a reason—we’ll call you. If you would like to sign-up for the weekly phone call program, give us a ring at (310) 253-6890 (Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM).
Questions? Call the Culver City Hotline
If you or someone you know has a non-emergency, non-medical need or question related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and you would like assistance, please email the City or call the City’s Coronavirus Hotline at (310) 253-6890 (Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM). If you email or leave a message at the Hotline after hours, please include your name, address, phone number, email address, and your need or question. In an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.
