Don't let your guard down: LA County health urges COVID caution as 3k new cases are reported

Los Angeles County's public health director said she sympathizes with people weary of calls for mask-wearing and caution against COVID-19 spread, but with case numbers still rising and new variants emerging, she said it would be a "mistake" to drop all precautions.

Nearly 15M deaths associated with COVID-19, World Health Organization says

Scientists estimate there were between 13.3 million and 16.6 million deaths that were either caused directly by the coronavirus or were somehow attributed to the pandemic’s impact on health systems.

Blinken tests positive for COVID-19, State Department says

The State Department says Secretary of State Antony Blinken has tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner and related events over the weekend.

New variants emerging faster as COVID spread continues, says LA County health director

The average number of daily new COVID-19 infections in LA County has jumped by about 200% over the past month, but the increase hasn't translated to rises in local hospitalizations or deaths.

California bill mandating 4-day workweek stalls in legislature
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A California bill that would mandate employers to pay overtime for workers working more than 32 hours a week will not be advancing in the Legislature this session.

CDC restates transportation mask recommendation

U.S. health officials are restating their recommendation that Americans wear masks on planes, trains and buses, despite a court ruling last month that struck down a national mask mandate on public transportation.

LA County health officials urge workplace safety as COVID-19 spread continues

Health officials have been reporting elevated daily case numbers in recent weeks, attributable largely to the BA.2 subvariant of the virus. An offshoot of that variant -- known as BA.2.12.1 -- has also begun spreading locally, and health officials said it is believed to be 20% to 30% more infectious than BA.2.

COVID-19 Omicron sub-variants dodge immunity from past infection, South African study finds

South Africa's health minister says it is likely the country has entered a new wave of COVID-19 earlier than expected as new infections and hospitalizations have risen rapidly over the past two weeks.

Inland Empire sees huge population growth
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While Los Angeles County experienced a population decline, some areas are booming - like the Inland Empire.

COVID-19 cases still high in LA County, with yet another variant growing

According to Ferrer, the infectious BA.2 subvariant of COVID-19 is now responsible for 88% of the local cases that underwent special testing to identify variants.

LAUSD failed to provide adequate services to students with disabilities during pandemic: Feds

Federal officials said that when LAUSD schools were forced into remote learning by COVID, the district limited services provided to students with disabilities, failed to track services that were provided and notified staff that the district was not responsible for providing "compensatory education" to students with disabilities who suffered learning loss during the pandemic because the campus closures were not ordered by the district.

School COVID cases spike after spring break: LA County Health

LA County reported more than 1,600 new COVID cases Wednesday. More than 700 school-based vaccination clinics are planned during May.

Is the U.S. out of the pandemic peak?
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Dr. Anthony Fauci's recent declaration that the U.S. is out of the pandemic phase stirred a nationwide debate.

Dr. Fauci says the ‘US is out of the pandemic phase’

Dr. Anthony Fauci said COVID-19 infections and deaths are at a lower level in the U.S., but people should still get 'intermittently' vaccinated.

Beijing enforces lockdowns, expands COVID-19 mass testing amid outbreak

Residents lined up for throat swabs across Beijing as mass testing was expanded to 11 city districts. Beijing has a total of 92 virus cases since an outbreak was discovered five days ago.