School Districts to Require All Students 12 and Older to be Vaccinated Against COVID-19
As part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s efforts to provide the safest possible environment in which to learn and work, all students 12 years old and older will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 10, 2022, unless they have a medical or other exemption. This follows a similar announcement to require student vaccinations made by Culver City Unified School District.
To date, schools across the county are implementing robust safety measures including daily health checks for everyone going onto school campuses, indoor masking, comprehensive COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and isolation of cases, increased sanitization/cleaning of school buildings, and upgraded ventilation. Requiring eligible students and staff to be vaccinated provides a powerful additional layer of protection to everyone in the school community.
Vaccination remains one of the quickest and most powerful ways to decrease community transmission and prevent serious illness, which helps keep students, teachers, and staff in school. And the COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and effective. Public Health will continue to work closely with school districts as they take critical actions to protect students and staff from a dangerous and highly infectious virus.
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Revised Youth Sports Guidelines
Last week, Los Angeles County modified the Health Officer Order to update youth sports testing requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated athletes, staff, coaches and volunteers.
The County continues to recommend weekly testing for unvaccinated participants in youth sports. The following applies to teams and sport activities based in Los Angeles County and relaxes certain screening testing requirements:
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Indoor Moderate or High Risk Sports for children of all ages, staff, coaches and volunteers. A weekly negative test result is required for all participants who are not fully vaccinated, including children who are playing, staff, coaches, and volunteers; weekly school testing fulfills this obligation.
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Outdoor Moderate or High Risk Sports for youth 12 and older, staff, coaches and volunteers. A weekly negative test result is required for all participants 12 and older who are not fully vaccinated, including children who are playing, staff, coaches, and volunteers; weekly school testing fulfills this obligation.
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No screening testing required for children under 12 playing Outdoor Sports.
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Fully vaccinated youth participating in outdoor sports are not required to test weekly unless there is a positive case among players, coaches and/or staff. If there is a positive case, all players, coaches, staff and volunteers (regardless of vaccination status) are required to have a weekly negative test result for two weeks from exposure to the case and must test negative prior to competitions.
These requirements may be modified based on the availability of and access to testing and will be reassessed when community transmission is no longer high. The youth sports guidelines is also available online here.
How to Get a COVID-19 Test in LA County
As many people have returned to work and school, the demand for COVID-19 testing has increased. COVID-19 testing is still widely available in LA County at both community sites and through private pharmacies and healthcare providers. If you need a COVID-19 test or think you may need one, we urge you to first contact your healthcare provider regarding your symptoms and their testing capabilities. COVID-19 testing does not require disclosure of immigration status and is free at LA County community testing sites.
Some things to note when considering a COVID-19 test:
When should you get a COVID-19 test?
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If you have COVID-19 symptoms: Talk to a doctor and get tested even if you are fully vaccinated or have had COVID-19 in the past.
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You are a “close contact” if you were exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 while they were infectious:
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You were within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
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You had unprotected contact with body fluids and/or secretions from someone with COVID-19. For example, you were coughed or sneezed on, you shared a drinking cup or eating utensils, you kissed, or you provided care to them without wearing the right protective equipment. Tested positive means they had a positive COVID-19 viral test (swab or saliva) test.
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You are part of an outbreak investigation
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If you live or work in a place where other people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you may need to be tested, even if you are fully vaccinated or had COVID-19 in the past.
The COVID-19 testing sites on the LA County COVID-19 Testing website offer no-cost (free) testing. Participating community clinics, providers, and other agencies may ask for your insurance information or ask you to enroll in a government program so that they can get reimbursed for the cost of the test. If you are unable or unwilling to provide this information, some sites may charge a sliding scale fee.
The County does not endorse or regulate all COVID-19 testing sites. Please make sure to read and ask about any costs for a COVID-19 test.
Is a COVID-19 test a guarantee you won’t get the virus?
A COVID-19 test will not protect you from the virus. Even if you have a negative result, you should practice physical distancing, wear a face covering, and wash your hands frequently. A negative COVID-19 test does not guarantee that you do not have the virus. With widespread community transmission, there is a daily risk of being infected with COVID-19. Getting vaccinated continues to be the most powerful tool we have against COVID-19. If you are were in close contact with someone who has tested positive or is known to have COVID-19, please follow the close contact and isolation protocols listed here.
If you or a loved one needs a COVID-19 test and is unable to travel or needs assistance getting a test please visit our page about our LA County Home Test Collection.
LA County Residents Eligible for the Advanced Child Tax Credit (CTC) and other Resources
The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs can connect you to free financial resources that can help. Whether it’s rental, housing stability programs, foreclosure prevention, food assistance, health care services, financial counseling, or help finding a job - there are programs that can help you get ahead. For example, many taxpayers who have children will start receiving advance Child Tax Credit payments from the Federal government. This will put hundreds of dollars into the pockets of families each month for the rest of this year.
For more information on the Advanced Child Tax Credit, visit GetAheadLA.org or visit
Traveling through an airport? Get your COVID-19 Vaccination!
COVID-19 Vaccines Available at LAX and Hollywood Burbank Airports
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
The vaccine clinic is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays). There are three vaccination locations:
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Outside LAX's Terminal 6 next to parking structure 6 and adjacent to the existing COVID-19 rapid test laboratory on the Lower/Arrivals level.
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Post-security inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal, departures level, in the Great Hall near the clock tower. This location is for ticketed passengers only.
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Pre-security inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal, arrivals Level 1, near information booth.
Those interested in receiving the vaccine can walk from any of the terminals or Parking Structure, which costs $5 for one hour.
No appointment is needed and no insurance is required. People will not be asked about their immigration status when they get a vaccine. Please visit the LAX COVID-19 Vaccine Webpage for more information and maps of the locations.
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
The COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic is open in Terminal A, immediately prior to the TSA passenger screening area. The Clinic is open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Currently the vaccine clinic is offering all 3 vaccines: Johnson and Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer. The clinic is open to everyone who meets the age requirements for each vaccine and they are free.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has developed a wide array of documents, guidance documents, and resources for the workers, businesses, partners, and the general public on a variety of topics related to COVID-19, including:
Information for the Public
Best Practices for Businesses
It is recommended you follow @lapublichealth on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for when appointments will be made available.
Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:
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