As Schools Prepare to Reopen, Sensible Steps Are Recommended to Reduce Risk
Post-COVID Health Conditions
Masks Still Strongly Recommended
When to Test for COVID-19
Why Do I Need a Booster?
Interactive Home Ventilation Tool
Choose Culver City – Love Local Music Program
COVID-19 Counts in Culver City and LA County
1. As Schools Prepare to Reopen, Sensible Steps Are Recommended to Reduce Risk
Throughout the pandemic, many children have been infected with COVID-19. Over the past 30-day period ending August 6, 13,438 children ages 5 to 17 were confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, representing 9% of all reported cases during that period.
While most children experience mild illness, there is no way to know in advance how children will be affected by COVID-19. Many children in LA County experienced serious illness and required hospitalization after becoming infected with COVID-19. To date, there have been 1,866 children ages 5 to 17 hospitalized with COVID-19 in LA County.
Although very rare, COVID-19 cases among children can sometimes result a few weeks later in a very serious, post-infection illness known as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a condition where different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. In total, over the course of the pandemic, Public Health has confirmed 314 cases of MIS-C.
Vaccines continue to provide the best protection against severe illness in children, as children who are unvaccinated are more likely to become seriously ill and require hospitalization. In fact, for the 90-day period ending July 21, unvaccinated children ages 12 to 17, were more than four times more likely to be hospitalized than vaccinated children in the same age group.
Since vaccinations provide the best protection against severe illness, parents are urged to make sure that they and their children are up to date on their vaccinations and boosters.
Currently, in LA County, 35% of school-age children ages 5-11 are fully vaccinated, which is far less than the 79% of school-age children ages 12-17 who are fully vaccinated.
Getting vaccinated has never been easier. Visit Public Health’s Vaccinate LA County website to learn about locations and schedules for clinics offering COVID-19 vaccines.
For those who have any questions about vaccine safety and effectiveness, please reach out to your pediatrician or clinician or speak with a Public Health staff member at the COVID-19 call center, (833) 540-0473, between the hours of 8 AM and 8:30 PM, seven days a week.
2. Post-COVID Health Conditions
Long COVID is a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems that people experience after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. As cases increase, there are likely to be more people reporting Long COVID illness symptoms weeks after initial infection. The most common symptoms reported for Long COVID are fatigue and exercise intolerance; however, breathing problems, brain fog, prolonged loss of taste and smell, and even sudden hair loss have occurred for some. The symptoms vary and may last or reappear over time. Learn more about Long COVID on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Although rare, children with prior COVID-19 infection had higher rates of certain conditions a month or more after diagnosis than children without COVID-19. New research—based upon medical claims data between March 2020 and January 2022 in children ages 0 – 17 with a health encounter (781,419 with prior COVID -19 compared with 2,344,257 without COVID-19)—finds an increased risk for post-COVID conditions, such as heart conditions, kidney failure, blood clots and diabetes. Although most cases are rare, it’s important to be aware and see a health care provider if your child is experiencing new or ongoing symptoms after having COVID-19. Vaccinating children 6 months and older can help protect them against post-COVID conditions. Review the Post-COVID-19 Symptoms and Conditions Among Children and Adolescents study to learn more.
3. Masks Still Strongly Recommended
Although Public Health is not moving forward with a universal indoor masking mandate due to the reduction in transmission and hospitalization rates, the impact of COVID-19 illness on health and healthcare systems is still at the High CDC Community Level. Public Health continues to strongly advise indoor masking in most public places and requires masks in high-risk settings.
The Fortieth Supplement continues to require a well-fitted mask for all persons present at in-person City Council, Commission, Board and Committee meetings in Culver City.
Still not sure about COVID-19 testing? See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s online COVID-19 Viral Testing Tool to help you decide if and when you should take a COVID-19 test.
Vaccines prevent serious illness from viruses like COVID-19. Boosters remind your body what the virus looks like and how to fight it off. They make sure protection lasts even longer. Everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster dose after they finish their primary series of Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J vaccine. Children ages 5-17 who received the Pfizer vaccine for their primary series should also get a booster dose. Learn more about the vaccine, booster doses and vaccine schedules by visiting the Public Health COVID Vaccines and Vaccine Schedules web page.
6. Interactive Home Ventilation Tool
When the weather is nice, open your doors and windows to improve ventilation, reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help protect your loved ones.
Check out Culver City’s new Love Local Music Program designed to enhance economic recovery efforts, enrich commercial corridors, and support neighborhood businesses recovering from the impacts of COVID-19. Love Local will spotlight local musicians in various outdoor spaces this Summer and Fall, starting August 20. Learn more about the Love Local Music Program and come out to shop, dine, and enjoy Culver City!
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 August 10, 2022
Cases in Culver City – 9,865
Deaths in Culver City – 140
Cases in LA County – 4,514 new cases were reported today (3,342,851 cases to date)
Deaths in LA County – 19 new deaths were reported yesterday (32,888 deaths to date)
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.