COVID in L.A.

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

Topics today include: 

• Governor Newsom activates the National Guard to bolster state’s COVID-19 testing capacity. 
• Governor Newsom proposes $2.7 billion for COVID-19 response. 
• L.A. County sets another daily record with more than 45,000 new COVID-19 cases. 
• Hospitals cut beds as nurses call in sick with COVID-19. 
• Op-Ed: As an E.R. doctor, I fear health care collapse more than Omicron. 
• California health officials consider an order to cancel elective surgeries. 
• New return-to-work guidance for California hospital and skilled nursing employees. 
  
  • California Nurses Association condemns new guidance. 
• COVID-19 parties for your kids are still a bad idea. 

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 associate professor in the division of infectious diseases at UCLA, Dr. Tara Vijayan. 

Topics today include: 

• Can you reuse KN95 and N95 masks? We look at different cleaning methods. 
• Possible allergic reactions to vaccines, including rashes and small changes to menstrual cycles. 
• Four U.C. campuses extend remote instruction through January. 
• Orange County reports third COVID-19 death of a child younger than 5. 
• L.A. County reports record 37,000 daily coronavirus cases; what does that mean for the Super Bowl? 
• When should you go to the E.R. with COVID symptoms? 
• Unboosted: California COVID-19 booster rate falls below 40% in most counties. 

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: 

• California extends statewide indoor masking requirement to February 15. 
• L.A. County Public Health adds additional masking requirement for indoor employees. 
• C.D.C. approves Pfizer booster shots for kids 12 and older. L.A. County will start administering them today. 
• COVID-19 hospitalizations among U.S. children soar. 
• Schools encounter problems finding enough COVID-19 tests. 
• Confusion over California’s COVID-19 hospitalization numbers. 
• Possible allergic reactions to vaccines. 
• What we know about the new IHU variant. 

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 doctor and professor of medicine at UCSF Dr. Monica Gandhi. 

Topics today include: 

• The next few weeks are “absolutely critical” as coronavirus cases explode in California. 
• “Unprecedented surge” in COVID-19 cases among L.A. police, firefighters. 
• L.A.’s first case of flurona discovered at Getty Center COVID-19 testing site. 
• Omicron appears to be milder -- how should that affect our behavior? 
• Free at-home COVID-19 tests are available in L.A. County but supplies are limited. 
• L.A. healthcare system hit with widening staffing shortages as workers get coronavirus. 
• The C.D.C. resists pushback and says a test to get out of COVID isolation isn’t needed. 
• White House embraces a manage-not-contain Omicron plan. 
• Fourth Pfizer dose spurs a sharp jump in antibodies, according to early data from Israel. 
• How safe are indoor gyms during the Omicron surge? 
• Study finds developmental lag in babies born during 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. Sam Torbati, co-chair of the department of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 

Topics today include: 

• L.A. County COVID hospitalizations near 2,000 mark as surge rages on. 
  
  • New coronavirus cases nearly double in Riverside County, hitting 11,639 in past week. 
  • Why so many vaccinated people are getting infected. 
  • OC’s COVID-19 cases up, hospitals busy – but we’re in better shape than earlier surges, experts say. 
• L.A. Unified orders COVID testing before school resumes amid high Omicron anxiety. 
• U.S. sets COVID global daily record of over 1 million new cases on Monday. 
• The unique, ambitious study that the California Public Health Department hopes will beef up its antibody database. 
• Starbucks imposes COVID-19 vaccination, testing requirements for U.S. workers. 
• Omicron evades immunity better than Delta, per Danish study. 
• The Atlantic: “Stop wasting COVID tests, people”. 

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, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center. 

Topics today include: 

• L.A. County reports nearly 45,000 new COVID-19 cases over the holiday weekend. 

  • L.A. County coronavirus transmission rate at highest point since early months of pandemic. 
  • Health officials plead with L.A. County residents to ‘act responsibly’. 
  • L.A. County public, private school staff must wear high-grade masks; rules for athletes tighten. 
• F.D.A. expands Pfizer booster eligibility to kids 12 to 15. 
• COVID-19 vaccines rarely lead to problems in younger children, according to two C.D.C. reports. 
• C.D.C. says ‘avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status’. 
• How this pandemic has left us less prepared for the next one. 
• Fauci: C.D.C. mulling COVID-19 test requirement for the asymptomatic. 
• More people are getting unapproved fourth vaccine doses. 

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:

• FDA authorizes Merck’s COVID-19 pill, but stresses its use should be limited. 
• Why does the Omicron variant spread so easily? 
• Biden announced 500 million free test at-home test kits, but when will they be available? 
• The changing definition of “fully vaccinated” as Omicron spreads. 
• After the flu virtually disappeared last year, it’s made an unwelcome comeback. 
• Study suggests three doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine fails to protect against Omicron. 
• ‘Staggeringly fast rise’ in L.A. County coronavirus cases triggers alarm. 
• Experts say that Covid-19 is shifting towards becoming an endemic disease. 
• Omicron surge further complicates a year filled with unruly passengers for airlines. 
• Israel considers approving fourth vaccine dose. 
• Israel agreed to trade data on their vaccination efforts in exchange for locking down a supply, now privacy concerns have arisen. 
• As Omicron spreads, older americans are displaying a mix of worry and resolve. 
• California will send at-home tests to K-12 students. 

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, guest host Austin Cross speaks with UCLA epidemiologist and professor of medicine Dr. Timothy Brewer. 

Topics today include: 

• Should I change holiday plans due to the Omicron variant and possible surge? 
• Biden to address the nation about the Omicron variant on Tuesday. 
• L.A. County sees highest daily COVID-19 cases since August. 
• Moderna says COVID-19 booster dose works against Omicron variant in lab tests. 
• Is that a sniffle or cold or COVID-19? 
• Most of the world’s vaccines likely won’t prevent infection from Omicron. 
• Affordable coronavirus tests are out there, if you look. 
• Long lines for COVID-19 testing as Omicron variant looms. 
• Omicron may sideline two leading drugs against COVID-19. 
• Latest on Pfizer’s trials for a vaccine for kids under 5. 

 

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, guest host Austin Cross speaks with the director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital Dr. Kimberly Shriner. 

Topics today include: 

• Multiple nations announce new rules over gatherings and travel ahead of holidays. 
• The Omicron variant now makes up 73% of new cases in the U.S. 
• Biden’s Omicron plan to include 500 million free at-home tests. 
• Tips for staying safe while flying over the holidays. 

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 Cedars-Sinai Medical Group Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Catherine Le. 

Topics today include: 

• Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should be recommended over J&J, CDC panel says. 
• COVID-19 hospitalizations jump in Southern California as Omicron alarms grow. 
• L.A. County tightens rules for mega events as COVID case numbers rise. 
• Regeneron and AstraZeneca give mixed results on potency of coronavirus antibody cocktails against omicron. 
• Delta, Omicron cases could overwhelm hospitals within weeks. 
• Center Theatre Group’s performance of “A Christmas Carol” on Thursday was canceled over COVID-19 issues. 
• Upcoming UCLA men’s basketball game on Saturday canceled over COVID-19 issues. 
• CDC endorses schools’ coronavirus “test-to-stay” policies. 

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