Citywide Coronavirus Update - July 13, 2022

City of Culver City sent this bulletin at 07/13/2022 06:30 PM PDT

Citywide Coronavirus Update - July 13, 2022

The City of Culver City continues to cooperate with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Los Angeles County.

For previous updates, please visit the City’s Coronavirus webpage.

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With Rising Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, Wearing Well-Fitting Respirator Masks and Getting Tested are Key to Reducing Transmission
COVID-19 Vaccines for Ages Six Months and Older
When to Test for COVID-19
At-Home COVID Test Expiration Date May Have Been Extended
Make a Plan to Get COVID-19 Medication
Traveling “COVID” Safe
COVID-19 Counts in Culver City and LA County

1. With Rising Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, Wearing Well-Fitting Respirator Masks and Getting Tested are Key to Reducing Transmission

With continued increases in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths over the past two weeks, wearing high-quality respirator masks and getting tested are critical steps to slowing the spread of COVID-19, as vaccination, boosters, and medicines remain key strategies for reducing serious illness and death.

While Los Angeles County remains at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designated COVID-19 Community Level of Medium, the County is very likely to move into High Level later this week as the rate of daily new admissions continues to increase. Using LA County specific data, as of Monday, the County was at 8.8 new admissions per 100,000 people. Once the County reaches 10 new admissions per 100,000 residents, the County will enter the High Community Level. Should the County remain in the High Community Level designation for two consecutive weeks, universal indoor masking, in alignment with the CDC, would be implemented across LA County.

After weeks of high case numbers fueled by highly infectious strains of COVID-19, the number of people severely ill and needing to be hospitalized is increasing rapidly. Over the last seven days, the average number of COVID-positive patients per day in LA County hospitals was 1,035, a 40% increase from two weeks ago when the average number of COVID-positive patients per day was 741.

Deaths, which typically lag hospitalizations by several weeks are also increasing, with an average of 14 deaths reported per day this past week, compared to an average of eight deaths two weeks ago.

As COVID-19 infections remain devastating for thousands of individuals, it is important to note that COVID is still a leading cause of death in LA County. Since January 2022, over 4,300 county residents have died from COVID; this is more than the average number of all annual deaths from influenza, colds, motor vehicle fatalities, and overdoses . On average, there is only one death each year from the common cold, and less than 1,500 from influenza.

Given the evidence that COVID-19 is more deadly than both colds and influenza, appropriate strategies are needed to reduce high transmission, since only those infected can suffer the most severe outcomes from the virus.

Studies continue to show that widespread, universal masking with well-fitting, high-quality masks, remains one of the simplest, most effective measures to reduce transmission of COVID-19. One study showed that, in 2020, counties that had a mask mandate had case rates that were 35% lower than counties that did not have one. Studies show that respirators continue to provide especially good protection. A 2021 study in California found that people who regularly used respirators like N95s or KN95s had 83% lower odds of testing positive than people who never wore masks.

Upgrade your mask. Consider fit, filtration & comfort; surgical mask is good, KF94/KN95 better, N95 is best. Cloth mask is fair

2. COVID-19 Vaccines for Ages Six Months and Older

In LA County, more than 900 vaccination sites are scheduled to offer the vaccines to these youngest children including more than 500 mobile sites, 200 pharmacies and seven Public Health Points of Dispensing (PODs). Some pharmacy sites are only licensed to vaccinate children age 3 and older, so parents are encouraged to reach out ahead of time to verify hours and availability.

Access to Vaccinations

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) continues to offer vaccination for all the current eligible groups now expanded to 6 months and older

Find out where to vaccinate children under 5.

Questions about vaccine safety and effectiveness? LACDPH encourages you to reach out to your pediatrician or clinician using LACDPH’s Questions You Can Ask Your Child's Doctor About the COVID-19 Vaccine or speak with a LACDPH staff member at the COVID-19 call center, (833) 540-0473 between the hours of 8 AM to 8:30 PM, seven days a week.
If you have questions about caring for your child with common side effects after their vaccine, view LACDPH’s After you get the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Wondering what the difference is between the vaccines available for children over 6 months?

Pfizer-BioNTech
6 months – 4 years old
Three doses
Each dose is 1/10 the amount of the adult dose
There are 3 – 8 weeks between the first and second dose and 8 weeks between the second and third dose.

Moderna
6 months – 5 years old
Two doses
Each dose is 1/4 the amount of the adult dose
There are 4 – 8 weeks between the first and second dose

Vaccines for children over 6 months. What's the difference? additional text outlined above.

3. When to Test for COVID-19

If you have any symptoms. Test regardless of your vaccination status.
If your first test is negative, but you still have symptoms, stay home and test again within 24-48 hours.
If you were exposed to COVID-19, be sure to follow quarantine guidelines.
Consider testing before and 3-5 days after a gathering, a large event or travel.

For more information and to find COVID-19 testing, visit the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services website about COVID-19 Testing.

When should I test for COVID-19? Text outlined above. COVID19.LACounty.gov/Testing

4. At-Home COVID Test Expiration Date May Have Been Extended

Did you know, that at-home COVID-19 tests have an expiration date that may have been extended? Check your test before using it.

Look at the expiration date on the box. It is printed as year – month – day. (For example, 2022 11 20 means November 20, 2022).
If your kit is past it’s expiration date, check if the expiration date has been extended by going to the US Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) website for the List of Authorized At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Test. Type in the name of your test and check the Expiration Date column to see if your test is still good to use.

When you do a test, follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly. Do not use a test kit that has expired and not been extended, because the results may not be accurate.

To learn more about expiration dates, visit the FDA’s webpage, At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions.

There are many ways to get a COVID-19 test in LA County. For test information, visit the How to Get a Test webpage.

5. Make a Plan to Get COVID-19 Medication

An important step we can each take to keep ourselves and others safe while transmission is high is to have a plan for getting medicines to treat COVID-19, if eligible. While many people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home, others are at higher risk of getting very sick. Those who are at elevated risk for severe COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, or death are likely to be eligible to receive medication that can help prevent these negative outcomes.

COVID-19 medications are recommended for people who have a positive COVID-19 test, have mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms, and are at high risk for severe illness due to age or certain health conditions.

Because these medicines must be prescribed by a provider and be given within several days of symptom onset, it is best to talk to your provider or Public Health ahead of time to learn whether you are a good candidate and how you can receive these medications.

There are 3 main ways to access medications:

Your Healthcare Provider

LA County has a network of more than 600 providers and pharmacies prescribing and/or dispensing medications.
Ask your provider if they can provide you with the medications or a prescription if you ever have mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

“Test to Treat” Programs

These sites provide free same-day testing and free medications at select pharmacies in LA County. If you’ve already been tested, you can also bring your positive test to the site to receive the medication if the onsite provider recommends and prescribes treatment.
Find a “Test to Treat” program near you.

Department of Public Health Free COVID-19 Medication Telehealth Service

Free COVID-19 Medication Telehealth Service will help you determine whether you may be eligible for free COVID-19 medications and connect you with free resources for getting tested, diagnosed, and/or prescribed the appropriate medications.
Department of Public Health (DPH) telehealth providers are available 7 days a week to screen patients for eligibility and determine which medication, if any, would be appropriate for the patient.
Individuals determined to be eligible for oral antivirals can choose how they would best like to receive their medication, including a referral to a Test to Treat site to receive the medications or having the prescription sent to a nearby pharmacy, or having the medication shipped to them overnight. There is no charge for any of these services or the medication
If you think you may be a candidate for COVID-19 medications or have questions, call (833) 540-0473 or visit the Los Angeles County DPH Medicine to Treat & Prevent COVID-19 website.
DPH staff are available 7 days a week from 8 AM to 8:30 PM to answer your questions, help you navigate the process, and connect you with these lifesaving medications.

Learn more about medicine to treat and prevent COVID-19.

COVID-19 medicine available now. Details in text above. Ask your doctor about medicines to prevent and treat people at risk.

6. Traveling “COVID” Safe

Travel increases the chances of getting and spreading COVID-19, so it's essential to get vaccinated, boosted, and wear a well-fitting mask with good filtration in high-risk settings, like indoor public places and transit centers, to protect you and your loved ones.

Heading home after your vacation? Travel COVID safe by testing as close to your departure as possible AND 3–5 days after returning from travel.

Learn more about how to travel COVID safe.

Coming back from paradise? Travelers at airport.

7. COVID-19 Counts in Culver City and LA County

The City of Culver City mourns the loss of residents who have passed away due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Case and Death Counts – as of July 13, 2022

Cases in Culver City – 9,277

Deaths in Culver City – 138

Cases in LA County – 6,530 new cases were reported today (3,189,901 cases to date)

Deaths in LA County – 15 new deaths were reported yesterday (32,478 deaths to date)

There are 1,170 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized in LA County. Testing results are available for more than 12,243,000 individuals with 23% of people testing positive. Today’s daily positivity rate was 16.3%. View additional COVID-19 metrics on the LA County COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard and the COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by City/Community table.

How You Can Help

Donate food and resources to help those in need. Visit the City’s Coronavirus webpages to learn more.

Food Resources

Find food resources and other helpful information on the City’s Coronavirus webpages.

You Are Not Alone

If the news surrounding COVID-19 is making you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, visit the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) COVID-19 mental health resource page, call their 24/7 hotline at (800) 854-7771, or text LA to 741741 to get help.

Questions? Call the City of Culver City

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 at (310) 253-6000 (Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, the City is closed every other Friday). COVID-19 related questions should be directed to (310) 253-6000. If you email or leave a message after hours, please include your name, address, phone number, email address, and your need or question. In an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.