Residents at Elevated Risk Encouraged to Seek Out No Cost Therapeutics As Soon as Possible

Ensuring easy access to COVID-19 therapeutics for residents at elevated risk and in hard-hit communities remains a key priority of L.A. County’s COVID-19 post-surge preparedness plan.

Residents who test positive for COVID-19 and are at elevated risk for severe illness, should promptly call their doctor to see if they qualify for one of the outpatient treatments such as the new oral medications (Paxlovid and Molnupiravir) or injectable treatments (Sotrovimab, Bebtelovimab or Remdesivir). These treatments work best when taken as soon as possible after symptom onset. Residents who cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccination for medical reasons, or their immune system is not strong enough to mount a response to the vaccine, should speak to their provider about Evusheld, an injectable medicine that is used to prevent COVID-19 infections.

All therapeutics must be prescribed by a healthcare provider and are free, although the treating facility may charge for administering the treatment.

All outpatient treatments are for use in those who are at high risk for severe illness. Paxlovid, Sotrovimab, and Bebtelovimab are restricted to those 12 years and older weighing at least 88 pounds. Molnupiravir is restricted to those 18 and over while Remdisivir can be used in both children and adults. Evusheld is available for anyone 12 and older weighing at least 88 pounds who has not been exposed to COVID-19 and can’t get a COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons, or who may not respond well to a vaccine because they have a weak immune system due to a medical condition or treatment.

Residents who want these medications or have questions on which treatment is right for them should contact their medical provider or call the COVID-19 information line at 833-540-0473, 8:00 am - 8:30 pm daily. The call center is a free resource where residents can get culturally and linguistically appropriate information about available therapeutics and how to access them. Residents can also visit the http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/medication/ to find available therapeutics near them.

Although supplies remain limited, more residents are receiving these treatments through pharmacies, partners, and providers. To date, Public Health has distributed 20,960 doses of Paxlovid, 39,764 doses of Molnupiravir, and 13,584 doses of Evusheld, with 73% of Paxlovid doses, 82% of Molnupiravir doses, and 66% of Evusheld allocated to residents in the most under-resourced communities in the County.

For more information on the distribution of Sotrovimab and Bebtelovimab please visit the Emergency Medical Services Monoclonal website: https://dhs.lacounty.gov/emergency-medical-services-agency/home/emergi-press/emergency-medical-services-mab/. Healthcare providers can order Remdesivir directly from the distributor.

While therapeutics are a powerful tool to combat COVID-19, they are not a substitute for vaccinations. Being fully vaccinated and boosted continues to offer the strongest layer of protection for residents, especially as the County may encounter new variants or another surge.

Residents should also consider getting tested if they are experiencing symptoms, are a close contact, and before and after traveling or attending an event or gathering. Rapid tests, including over the counter (OTC) self-tests, provide a result in 15-30 minutes. Residents can find a testing site in LA County at https://dhs.lacounty.gov/covid-19/testing/. Residents can also visit https://www.covidtests.gov/ to order a second round of free at-home tests from the federal government.

Residents who do test positive must isolate indoors for at least 5 days, wear a mask when around others, and notify their close contacts. If residents are symptom free and have a negative follow-up viral test on Day 5 or later, they can end isolation, but are strongly recommended to continue wearing a mask until Day 10.

“We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to everyone mourning the loss of a loved one, and offer our wishes for peace and healing,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “Even though we have transitioned to a post-surge period, there is still substantial virus transmission across the County. While many people may have only mild symptoms and are able to recover at home should they test positive, other individuals remain at elevated risk for severe infection, hospitalization, or death. Public Health thanks our partners that are working to provide access to therapeutics for those high-risk individuals who are most vulnerable to becoming very ill.”

Public Health reported 864 new positive cases and 34 new deaths today. Of the 34 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 18 and 29, two people were between the ages of 30-49, four were between the ages of 50-64, 11 were between the ages of 65-79, and 13 were aged 80 years or older. Of the 34 newly reported deaths, 24 had underlying health conditions. Information on the three deaths reported by the City of Long Beach is available at www.LongBeach.gov. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 31,372.

Public Health has reported a total of 2,815,379 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 0.7%.

There are 499 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 11,564,200 individuals, with 22% of people testing positive.

A wide range of data and dashboards on COVID-19 from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are available on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov including:

• COVID-19 Daily Data (cases, deaths, testing, testing positivity rate, mortality rate, and hospitalizations)

• Gender, Age, Race/Ethnicity and City/Community Cases and Deaths

• Recovery Metrics

• Contact Tracing Metrics

• Skilled Nursing Facility Metrics

• Citations due to Health Officer Order Noncompliance

• Outbreaks:

  • Residential Congregate Settings

  • Non-Residential Settings

  • Homeless Service Settings

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

• California Department of Public Health:

• https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• Spanish https://espanol.cdc.gov/enes/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

• LA County residents can also call 2-1-1

For more information: Cases through 12:00pm 3/15/2022