COVID in L.A.

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

Topics today include: 

• L.A. County hospitalizations continue to decline. 
• Why Americans are behind on getting boosted. 
• Does just being exposed to Omicron build your immunity? 
• C.D.C.shortens interval between 3rd and booster shot for the immunocompromised
• The world is likely more sick than it has been in 100 years. 
• “Broken heart” cases are surging amidst pandemic. 
• New Jersey to end state mask mandate for schools. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

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

Topics today include: 

• L.A. County unveils plans to drop some mask rules once COVID conditions improve. 
• Californians feel less optimistic about the pandemic than they did last spring. 
• San Francisco physicians start petition calling for state to pivot on school COVID guidelines. 
• Opinion: The smallest kids still lack a vaccine. The F.D.A. must leave no uncertainty. 
• A different COVID-19 vaccine debate: Do we need new shots?
• Omicron variant's "milder" severity likely due to more population immunity, according to Harvard researchers. 
• Johns Hopkins analysis finds lockdowns only reduced COVID-19 death rate by 0.2%. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine Dr. Shruti Gohil. 

Topics today include: 

• Could the Omicron surge wind down by early March? 
• Why do some people get COVID when others don’t? 
• L.A. County health officials double down on mask mandate ahead of the Super Bowl. 
• California’s indoor mask mandate is set to expire February 15 – should it be extended? 
• Johnson & Johnson recipients can get a third COVID-19 shot in San Francisco. 
• Why nasal COVID-19 vaccines may make better boosters. 
• As with vaccines, equity becomes an issue with COVID-19 medications. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Kristen R. Choi, professor of nursing and public health at UCLA. 

Topics today include: 

• The status of the nursing profession as the pandemic goes on.
• Pfizer asks the F.D.A. to allow COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5. 
• U.S. has far higher COVID death rate than other wealthy countries. 
• A study finds that vaccines provide robust protection against Omicron. 
• Fast-spreading Omicron variant is more likely to cause reinfection. 
• Denmark halts virus restrictions. The rest of Europe is a patchwork. 
• Disneyland requires vaccines for workers but not for visitors. 
• Omicron hit poor L.A. communities of color hardest. 
• Johns Hopkins analysis finds lockdowns only reduced COVID-19 death rate by 0.2%. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Tara Vijayan, associate professor of infectious diseases and medical director of antimicrobial stewardship at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 

Topics today include: 

• Pfizer expected to ask the F.D.A. to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5. 
• Novavax applies for F.D.A. authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine. 
• Why Omicron hit Southern California harder than the Bay Area. 
• L.A. County health officials face pressure to ease indoor mask rules. 
• Even if they can find a test, not everyone wants to know if they have COVID. 
• What role should health providers play in COVID-19 testing? 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with the director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Dr. Kimberly Shriner. 

Topics today include: 

• Moderna announces full U.S. approval for its COVID-19 vaccine. 
• New C.D.C. data shows the effectiveness of boosters. 
• L.A. County’s daily coronavirus cases continue dramatic decline, but death rate remains high. 
• Optimism at L.A. County’s nursing homes as coronavirus surge declines. 
• People who are boosted against COVID-19 will be exempt from San Francisco’s mask mandate in certain group settings. 
• New clues about who will develop Long COVID. 
• Omicron pushes health authorities toward learning to live with COVID-19. 
• Opinion: What we can learn from how the 1918 pandemic ended. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

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: 

• What we know about the new BA.2 Omicron variant. Here’s why scientists are on alert. 

• Omicron was in California before it was named Omicron, according to sewage samples. 

  • What else wastewater is telling us about the Omicron surge. 
• Health officials say L.A. County is past the Omicron peak. 
• San Francisco eases mask, vaccination proof rules as Omicron surge recedes. 
• Rams-49ers football, Lunar New Year pose new COVID-19 challenge for California. 
• Should you get a second booster shot? 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Timothy Brewer, epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health. 

Topics today include: 

• Moderna begins the next phase of its Omicron-specific booster trial. Study finds antibodies drop 6-fold over 6 months. 
• Israeli study finds slightly higher-than-expected rate of myocarditis among vaccinated boys. 
• A 15-month-old has died of COVID-19 in L.A. County. 
• California exceeds 8 million coronavirus cases; adds 2.5 million since New Year’s Day. 
• There’s one population that gets overlooked by an “everyone will get COVID” mentality. 
• Sacramento City Unified pushes student COVID-19 vaccine mandate deadline to Feb. 28. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

Imperfect Paradise, produced by LAist Studios, is a longform narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance. Each of our stories takes on something essential about California -- its progressiveness, its reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places -- and breaks it down into three, 20-30 minute episodes that will be released occasionally.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

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

Topics today include: 

• Study suggests more than two-thirds of Omicron cases are reinfections. 
• “Stealth Omicron” sub variant found in Santa Clara County. 
• Public health officials say Omicron has passed the peak in L.A. County but.  transmission rate is still worrisome. 
• Fans attending Super Bowl at SoFi will get KN95 masks and will be urged to keep them on. 
• When should a vaccinated person who recovered from COVID-19 get boosted? It’s complicated. 
• New research hints at four factors that may increase chances of long COVID. 
• Omicron’s spread underscores the potential consequences of the global vaccine gap, experts say. 
• Op-Ed: China’s zero-COVID policy is a pandemic waiting to happen. 
• It’s too early to say whether CBD helps against COVID-19. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

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: 

• Pfizer begins testing Omicron-matched COVID-19 vaccines in adults. 
• F.D.A. halts use of antibody drugs that don’t work versus Omicron. 
• L.A. County seeing more deaths from Omicron. 
• “Mild” but still deadly: Omicron may kill tens of thousands more Americans by March. 
• Omicron is spreading. How should we respond now? 
• Coronavirus tests from the U.S. government have started to arrive at homes. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

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

Topics today include: 

• COVID-19 still spreading widely in L.A. County, though signs of decline continue. 
• L.A. County reports third straight drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations. 
• Fauci suggests Omicron wave is peaking, but warns of “more pain” to come. 
• WHO chief warns against talk of “endgame” in pandemic. 
• Data from UCSF sheds light on how many COVID-related hospitalizations are “for” COVID or “with” COVID. 
• At California hospitals, many children are coming in with COVID, not for COVID. 
• New bill would require all California school children be vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• LAUSD to require students to wear non-cloth masks starting Monday. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with registered nurse and professor of nursing and public health at UCLA, Kristen R. Choi. 

Topics today include: 

• C.D.C. studies show boosters provide the best protection against the Omicron variant. 
• Post-infection immunity was very effective against Delta, but C.D.C. says vaccines still offer the best defense. 
• L.A. County reports 102 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, the deadliest pandemic day since March 2021. 
• Coronavirus transmission rates are falling across California. 
• Fauci says the F.D.A. could authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5 in the next month. 
• UCSF scientists detect anomalies in people with post-COVID “brain fog”. 
• Europe considers new COVID-19 strategy: Accepting the virus. 
• L.A. schools see coronavirus rates decline. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

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

Topics today include: 

• C.D.C. says post-infection immunity was very effective against Delta, but vaccines still offer the best defense. 
• Omicron leaves testing labs overwhelmed, causing frustrating delays to get results. 
• Even as Omicron starts to ease in California, hospitals facing grim conditions. 
• California approaches pandemic record for all hospitalizations. 
• Why are men more likely to die of COVID-19? It’s complicated. 
• Can vaccinated people who get a breakthrough infection start living like it’s 2019? 
• As L.A. schools backtrack on COVID vaccine, dozens more districts push to mandate it. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

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

Topics today include: 

• Researchers say L.A.’s Omicron surge is peaking now. 
• U.S. faces wave of Omicron deaths in coming weeks, models show. 
• White House to start distributing free N95 masks starting next week. 
• Five things to know about ordering free COVID-19 tests from the federal government. 
• False negative results with rapid tests cause frustration. 
• Expect more worrisome variants after Omicron, scientists warn. 
• W.H.O.: Here’s how the COVID-19 health emergency could end this year. 
• Pfizer’s new COVID-19 pill works against Omicron in lab tests. 
• Canada approves Pfizer’s at-home COVID-19 antiviral prescription pill. 
• Possible side effects of Pfizer’s at-home COVID-19 pill. 
• Beijing says international mail is a possible culprit in first Omicron case. 
• Grammy Awards moving to Las Vegas April 3. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, we speak with the director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena Dr. Kimberly Shriner. 

Today’s topics include: 

• In an Israeli study, a 4th vaccine dose shows limited results with Omicron. 
• L.A. County logs nearly tenfold increase in coronavirus cases in a month. 
• California throws more money at COVID-19 contact tracing, but is it too late? 
• New federal website to order free COVID-19 tests launches. 
• For coronavirus testing, the nose may not always be best. 
• This is what long-term immunity to COVID-19 might look like. 
• With COVID-19, we’ll never have a normal flu season again. 
• Greece begins monthly fines for unvaccinated people 60 and older. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

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

Topics today include: 

• California Omicron surge expected to peak within weeks. 
• New virus cases begin to slow in U.S. cities where Omicron hit first. 
• Starting Monday, L.A. County employers will be required to provide medical grade masks in the workplace. 
• Biden to double at-home COVID tests for Americans. 
• Here’s one critical thing to check before you buy or use a rapid home COVID test.  

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s school of public health, Dr. Timothy Brewer. 

Topics today include: 

• L.A. County reports single highest death toll in 4 months. 
• Biden to announce new federal medical team deployments to help hospitals grappling with COVID-19 surge. 
• F.D.A. warns against using unapproved COVID-19 tests because of a "high risk of false results". 
• Omicron causing less severe illness in Southern California patients, study suggests. 
• Children's low COVID vaccination rates called a "gut punch". 
• Is Omicron peaking?
• COVID-19 pill rollout stymied by shortages as Omicron rages. 
• New study reveals stark COVID risks for unvaccinated pregnant women and their babies 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. 

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. 

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.