HEALTH UPDATE: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

REVISED MARCH 17, 2023

On March 16, 2020, BCHD activated its Emergency Operations Plan and opened the District Operations Center (DOC) in response to COVID-19. View the DOC Dashboard for BCHD program and service numbers.

Latest COVID-19 Updates:

With new COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance in place, the following steps are strongly recommended by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to keep residents who are most at-risk safe:

• Test to leave isolation. If you have COVID-19, it remains very important to minimize the risk of passing along an infection. This includes testing negative if leaving isolation between days 5 to 10 of your infection (and only if you’re improving and you’ve been fever free for 24-hours without fever-reducing medicine). Testing before leaving isolation before day 10 will make you significantly less likely to infect others.
  • Mask up to leave isolation. After you test negative and leave isolation, please wear a well-fitting mask around others indoors, especially those at higher risk, until day 10. People can be infectious for up to 10 days, and sometimes longer in more severe cases.
• Mask up and test if exposed. If you are a close contact to someone who tests positive, take steps to prevent exposing others. Test as soon as possible. If negative, test again between 3 and 5 days after your known exposure. While symptoms usually appear in the first 3 to 5 days, they can take up to 10 days to appear, so it is recommended close contacts wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after their last exposure.
• Know your COVID-19 status. Take an at-home COVID-19 test before gatherings, especially if those at higher risk will be in attendance, so you don’t unknowingly infect others. Free tests can be found at Public Health vaccination sites and clinics, many libraries and schools. Health insurance policies, including Medi-Cal are still required to reimburse each member for up to eight tests a month.

In addition to taking these sensible steps, everyone who is eligible should receive the updated bivalent booster. This booster, available to ages 6 months and older, has been shown to provide significant protection against hospitalization and death even when compared to individuals who have been fully vaccinated but had not received the updated booster.

Los Angeles County Aligns with State on New COVID-19 Guidelines; Local Orders Will Address Enhanced Protections in High-Risk Settings

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced on March 10, 2023 that the County will align with the following new guidance issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH):

• Masking – With current COVID-19 case and hospitalization levels, masking for the general public is based on individual preference. Vulnerable populations, including people who are elderly, immunocompromised or have underlying health conditions, and those who have contact with them should consider masking in indoor public spaces.
• Vaccination – On April 3, CDPH will rescind COVID-19 vaccination orders for workers at correctional, detention and adult care facilities.
• Isolation – Starting March 13, individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 should continue to isolate (stay home) for 5 days and may leave isolation after day 5, as long as they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medicines) and they either have no symptoms or their symptoms are mild and improving. A negative COVID-19 test is no longer required to leave isolation between days 6-10. The Department of Public Health strongly recommends that people test negative prior to leaving isolation between days 6-10.

Infected people should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days. People may now discontinue wearing a mask around others between days 6-10 if they have two sequential negative tests taken at least one day apart.

• Quarantine – Starting March 13, it is strongly recommended but not required that a person who is a close contact to a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 wears a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings or when near those who are at high risk for severe illness. It is recommended that close contact tests as soon as possible to determine infection status and then, if negative, test again within 3-5 days after the last known exposure.

The Department of Public Health will continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 and to protect the county’s most vulnerable residents by continuing to require robust COVID-19 case and cluster reporting by worksites, schools and healthcare facilities to the Department of Public Health. The ongoing case and cluster reporting requirements are intended to help Public Health officials quickly identify sectors where there may be increased COVID-19 transmissions and take action to prevent unmitigated spread.

Public Health will also continue enhanced protective measures in healthcare settings. Specifically, Public Health will continue to require:

• Healthcare workers to be vaccinated and boosted and wear a mask during patient care or working in patient care areas. This requirement will be re-assessed by the end of September 2023.

Even with less stringent guidelines, Los Angeles County residents are strongly recommended to stay up to date on vaccines and boosters, test before gatherings, and get treatment and stay home when sick. The updated bivalent booster has been shown to significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths when compared to individuals who had been vaccinated but had not received the updated booster.

For more information on COVID-19, visit:
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
California COVID-19 Response - covid19.ca.gov
California Department of Public Health
Los Angeles County COVID-19 Response - covid19.lacounty.gov
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
World Health Organization