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: 

• L.A. County to lift indoor mask mandate for vaccinated people on Friday. 

  • L.A. Unified drops outdoor mask mandate. 
• The U.S. mask mandate for air travel will expire next month, but some flight attendants say it’s too soon. 
• A new COVID vaccine shows 100% efficacy against severe disease and hospitalizations, its maker says. 
• Yes, millions of Americans have caught Omicron. No, we don’t have herd immunity. 

• Who might benefit from a fourth shot – and who might not. 

  • Got a COVID booster? You probably won’t need another for a long time. 
• New breakdown of hospitalized patients in California hospitals by vaccination status. 
• How Long COVID exhausts the body. 

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 talks about the new plan and where California goes from here with Jackie Fortiér, health reporter for KPCC & LAist and speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg, professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. 

Topics today include: 

• California's new plans for the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic. 
• WSJ: Lower Omicron efficacy delayed F.D.A. review on Pfizer shot in kids under 5. 
• Lab studies point to signs of severity with the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron. 
• Orange County hospitalizations dip below 400 patients for the first time since December. 

• As California unveils its endemic strategy, here's what other western states are doing: 

  • Washington State to drop mask mandate, including for schools, next month. 
  • New Mexico to end indoor mask mandate immediately. 
• U.S. ramping up vaccination assistance to 11 African countries. 

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 school of public health. 

Topics today include: 

• L.A. County surpasses 30,000 deaths from COVID-19. 
• COVID-19 cases plummet across the U.S. 
• Why California hopes people keep wearing masks even as coronavirus cases fall.      
• Estimated 73% of U.S. now immune to Omicron: Is that enough? 
• COVID patients may have increased risk of developing mental health problems.   
• How immunocompromised Americans feel as the U.S. moves on from COVID-19. 
• Opinion: The moral danger of declaring the pandemic over. 

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. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center. 

Topics today include: 

• L.A. County lifts outdoor mask mandate. 
• Disneyland lifts mask requirement for vaccinated guests. 
• C.D.C. expected to update mask guidance as early as next week. 
• Coachella, Stagecoach festivals won’t require COVID-19 vaccination, tests, or masks. 

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. Paul Adamson, infectious diseases physician and assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 

Topics today include: 

• California school mask mandate will remain in place through Feb. 28. 
• The quest to create a universal vaccine against COVID-19. 
• COVID: Is it finally time to take your mask off? Here’s how to decide. 
• California's case rate now 5 times lower than peak of Omicron surge. 
• Long COVID sufferers are struggling with exercise. 

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. Kimberly Shriner, director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. 

Topics today include: 

• Vaccine for kids under 5 is delayed after F.D.A. review stalls. 

• New C.D.C. data adds to evidence that boosters’ protection against severe COVID-19 plunges after four months. 

• Gov. Newsom set to announce new guidance on masks in schools today. 

• Biden acknowledges frustration with COVID-19 rules, but says lifting mask mandate is premature. 

• New research shows Ebola vaccine used in Central Africa produces lasting antibody response. 

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. Shruti Gohil, professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine.

Topics today include: 

• COVID-19 and the Super Bowl:  

  • COVID-19 protocols for fans. 
  • Poll shows Californians more cautious about COVID-19 ahead of the Super Bowl.  
  • Hosting a Super Bowl viewing party? Here are some COVID-19 safety tips. 
• With Omicron in retreat, L.A. may start to scrap its mask requirements next week. 
• L.A. and Orange counties post highest COVID-19 death rates in 11 months. 
• California to debate mandating COVID-19 vaccines at all workplaces. 
• Coronavirus can destroy the placenta and lead to stillbirths. 
• Daily COVID-19 numbers. 

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: 

• Mask mandates will be lifted in most bay areas communities next week. 
• New study finds COVID-19 induced heart damage can be long lasting. 
• L.A. County hospitalizations continue to decline, near threshold to lift mask mandate. 
• Gov. Newsom teases new strategy to treat COVID-19 as endemic. 
• Pharmacists and technicians are burning out as they bear the brunt of the pandemic. 

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 school of public health. 

Topics today include: 

• L.A. County health director says indoor mask mandate won’t be lifted for weeks. 
• C.D.C. director: COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations still too high for changes to mask guidance. 
• COVID-19 hospitalizations continue downward trend, now 30% below the peak. 
• J&J pauses production of its COVID-19 vaccine. 
• Will a mask protect me even if no one else is wearing one? 
• Can you get long COVID after an infection 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 Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. 

Topics today include: 

• California’s indoor mask mandate will expire on Feb. 16 for the vaccinated. 

  • L.A. County’s mandate will remain in place until transmission levels fall. 
• Lessons learned as we enter year 3 of the pandemic. 
• The future of the pandemic is becoming more clear. 
• Deer populations could harbor the coronavirus long term. 
• The BA.2 variant of Omicron is spreading rapidly across Europe. 
• Previously uncatalogued mutations of coronavirus are popping up in California sewage. 
• California appears close to changing school masking rules. 

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