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.