Last update 1/18/21
How many cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) are in the United States and locally?
United States
The total population of the U.S. is 328,200,000 people. Since January 21,
2020, the total number of confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in the
U.S. is 23,653,919 with 394,495 deaths that are confirmed or probable
due to COVID-19. That means that about 7.2% of the population have or
had confirmed or probable COVID-19. See below for CDC's definition
for probable. The number of cases increases cumulatively as the pandemic continues. The percentage of cases testing positive had been increasing nationally
since October, decreased for several weeks in December, increased again
in the week ending January 2 and is stable for the week ending January
9. The percentage of hospitalizations had increased in the late fall into
December, declined in recent weeks and remains steady. The rate of hospitalization continues to be highest for people 65 years
of age and older.
For those with COVID-19 nationally, the death rate (# of deaths in relation
to # of cases) has continued to decline and is now 1.66% (down from 1.67%
the week before). The CDC also reports that among adults, 8 out of 10 deaths have been 65
years of age and older. There have been 271,467,914 COVID-19 tests conducted
in the U.S.
People at any age may be at greater risk if they have certain underlying
medical conditions. These include:
- cancer
- chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- obesity (body mass index [BMI] - of 30 or higher)
- serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease,
or cardiomyopathies
- sickle cell disease
- type 2 diabetes mellitus
Other conditions
might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Click here for more information about underlying medical conditions.
All CDC statistics attributable to COVID-19 are either confirmed or probable.
"Probable" case or deaths are defined as any ONE of the following:
- meets clinical criteria AND epidemiologic linkage without confirmed laboratory
testing performed for SARS-CoV-2
- meets presumptive laboratory evidence
- meets vital records criteria with no confirmatory laboratory evidence for
SARS-CoV-2
More specifics about critieria, epidemiologic linkage and laboratory evidence
noted above is in the CDC's August 5, 2020
position statement here.
See the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) chart below for national testing,
hospitalization and death statistics from March 1, 2020 through January 9, 2021.
Note: PIC probable and confirmed deaths in the chart are due to "pneumonia,
influenza, or COVID-19" (PIC), not solely COVID-19.
Los Angeles County
The total population in Los Angeles County is 10,040,000 people. As of
January 16, 2021 in Los Angeles County, the total number of confirmed
cases is 1,014,662 (with 13,848 deaths.)
That means that about 10% of the local population has or had confirmed
cases of COVID-19. The number of cases increases cumulatively as the pandemic continues. The percentage of cases testing positive had been stable since mid-September,
with some variations, however, in the last few months there has been an
increased spike. Deaths had been declining, with some variations from
week to week. Since late November it has increased. The cumulative death
rate (# of deaths in relation to # of cases) has remained steady at about
1.3% for the last three weeks, which is slightly lower than the national rate.
To date, about 5,218,812 individuals have been tested for the virus across
Los Angeles County. Cumulatively, 17% have tested positive.
The number of hospitalizations had been stable since mid-September, with
some variations, however, there has been an uptick since late November. Until the numbers show there is no longer wide-spread community transmission,
Los Angeles mandated work and home restrictions remain in place. Based on last data provided by LA County, about 91% of all patients who
have died had underlying medical conditions. Death by ethnicity is: 52%
Latinx, 24% White/Caucasian, 14% Asian, 9% African American/Black, less
than 1% Native American/Pacific Islander, and 1% Other Races.
See updated chart below for cases by age group in Los Angeles County.
*An
interactive map on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for the United States
is updated Monday through Friday.
**Information about our area is updated daily on the
Los Angeles County Deparment of Public Health (LACDPH) website.
Is the Covid-19 vaccine currently available?
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as of
January 5, 2021 vaccinations are proceeding throughout Los Angeles County
as they continue to build capacity. As of January 2, the County received
a total of 189,995 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 96,390 doses had been
administered to frontline healthcare workers at acute care hospitals.
As of January 18, the County has administered almost 39,000 doses to staff
and residents at skilled nursing facilities. EMT's and paramedics
and other facilities are also currently vaccinating or are scheduling
vaccinations for the week ending January 23. The vaccine will likely be
available to the general public in the Spring/Summer 2021. Sign up for
email updates with Los Angeles County, or check back here to find out
when and where the vaccine will be available. Additional information is on the
Los Angeles County Covid-19 Vaccine page.
What is community spread? Is the virus still spreading in the U.S.?
Yes, in areas of the United States. The percentage of cases testing positive
overall had been decreasing in the three weeks ending December 26, 2020
but increased again for the week ending January 2, 2021. The percentage
of hospitalizations has been decreasing in recent weeks.
Community spread happens when people have been infected with the virus
in a community, including some who are not sure how or where they became
infected, and have not traveled to countries where the virus has been
circulating. It is now believed that there may be a significant number
of people infected with COVID-19 who do not show symptoms and may spread
the virus to others. The duration and severity of each phase can vary
depending on the characteristics of the virus and the public health response.
All 50 states have reported COVID-19 cases, with most having reported
widespread community spread since the pandemic began.
Has the curve flattened in LA County?
There has been an increased spike in cases that began toward the end of
October. Hospitalizations have been increasing. The cumulative death rate
(# of deaths in relation to # of cases) since the pandemic started is
currently about 1.3%. The numbers of cases are in the range that shows the COVID-19 pandemic
is still present and according to LA County guidance, all residents, business
owners and employees must continue to observe and practice all COVID-19
physical distancing requirements.
Is social distancing still needed? Has the Stay at Home Order been lifted?
Yes, social distancing is still needed. Residents should continue to practice
social distancing (staying 6 feet away from people who don't live
with you), wash hands frequently, and wear a face covering when leaving
your home. The Los Angeles Safer at Home Order is in place and residents
are ordered to not visit friends or family indoors without an urgent need,
patients in hospitals, nursing homes and residential care facilities.
Most people are also still ordered to not go to their places of employment
(certain jobs are exempt).
In addition, Los Angeles County has a Temporary Targeted Order in effect.
It was extended on December 27 indefinitely until further notice. See
below. It prohibits all private and public gatherings with individuals
not in your household, except for religious services and protests.
As of January 18, 2021, Los Angeles the following non-essential businesses
are open with social distancing and specific infection control protocols.
These include grocery stores at 35% capacity; outdoor retail shopping
centers at 50% capacity; indoor retail shopping centers at 20% capacity;
outdoor gyms at 50% capacity; drive-in restaurants; restaurants, breweries,
brew pubs, wineries, and tasting rooms with pick-up only at 20% capacity
(indoor and outdoor seating has been suspended); libraries with curbside
pickup; and indoor places of worship. Other low risk retailer such as
bookstores, pet food stores, and hardware stores are open, as well as
hotels and short term rentals with safeguards. Also open are office-based
businesses when teleworking is not possible, such as realtors. Outdoor
zoos and aquariums, and museums and galleries with outdoor areas are open
at 50% capacity. Outdoor playgrounds, parks, recreational, and workout
facilities are also open including beaches, golf courses, trails, parks,
day camps, and camping parks. Film/TV/music productions can resume. Non-medical
face coverings and social distancing are required.
As of January 18, 2021, the following businesses are still closed under
state and County orders: hair salons, nail salons and tattoo parlors;
indoor gyms/fitness centers; bars, bar areas and indoor/outdoor seating
in restaurants; public entertainment venues including indoor movie theaters,
live performance theaters, concert venues, festivals, racetracks, and
professional sports leagues (training only); family entertainment centers
such as indoor bowling alleys, arcades, miniature golf and batting cages;
indoor playgrounds except those at school or childcare centers; public
hot tubs and saunas. All travel has been banned by foot, bicycle, motorcycle,
car or public transit unless the individual is engaged in an essential
or recreational activity and wearing a mask.
Additional information is in the latest
City of Los Angeles Public Order update (updated December 31), in the LA County
Temporary Targeted Safer at Home Order (updated December 30; effective indefinitely until further notice), and on the
LA County Roadmap to Recovery page.
Recommendations to help protect yourself and prevent the spread are on our
COVID-19 FAQs page.
What is the status of the reopening of schools and colleges?
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) started the school year on
August 18 with online-only courses. The district is continuing to plan
for an eventual return to in-person classes. Teachers have been provided
with training in online education and students will receive training to
become better online learners. For more information and resources, visit the
LAUSD website or call their hotline at 213.443.1300.
In October, Los Angeles County expanded a program that allowed schools
to resume in-person instruction for high-need and English-learning students.
The limit of students allowed back to campus increased to 25% of a school's
overall enrollment. Nearly 35,000 students are receiving in-person instruction.
Some waivers are also being issued for schools with students in pre-kindergarten
through second grade. In addition the City of Los Angeles has provided
additional guidance with a
School Public Order.
On August 12, the LA County Department of Public Health announced that
colleges and universities may continue essential operations but most academic
instruction must be distance-learning. They may continue to offer in person
training and instruction only for students who are or will become part
of the essential workforce and only for required activities that cannot
be accomplished through virtual learning. On-campus residency is provided
only for students who have no alternative housing options.
What are the symptoms, testing, and treatment options for someone who has COVID-19?
Symptoms usually appear gradually 2 to 14 days after exposure. Some people
have had only mild symptoms while others have become severely ill. As
of May 13, the CDC's revised list of symptoms include fever or chills,
cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body
aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of smell and taste, and congestion
or runny nose. Some patients may have digestive issues such as loss of
appetite or diarrhea. Severe symptoms include trouble breathing, persistent
pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or inability to arouse, and bluish
lips or face. This list is not all possible symptoms. If you have these
or other symptoms that are severe or concern you, you should get medical
attention immediately.
The City of Los Angeles is providing free COVID-19 testing to all Los Angeles
County residents, whether or not you are experiencing symptoms. Priority
is given to people with symptoms. For more information visit the
City of Los Angeles COVID-19 Testing page.
Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special
treatment. There is no specific treatment for illnesses caused by COVID-19
however many of the symptoms can be treated. Generally, it depends on
the severity of the case and the patient's medical condition and history.
More information about what you should do if you think you have COVID-19
symptoms is on our
COVID-19 FAQs page.
When will a COVID-19 patient be isolated or quarantined?
Public health actions that are used to limit the spread of the virus include
isolation and quarantine. Isolation is used when a person is sick with
COVID-19 and is isolated from other people in their own homes. In more
severe cases a sick patient will be isolated in hospitals and other healthcare
facilities, away from other patients. In most cases isolation is voluntary,
but health officials have the power to require isolation of sick people
to protect the public's health.
When a person is quarantined they are separated from others because they
have tested positive for the virus but are not sick. Even though they
are not sick at the moment, if they were exposed to the disease, they
may still become infectious and spread the disease to others.
Evidence suggests that it may take longer for the virus to shed, which
means an infected person be able to infect other people over a longer
period of time than was initially thought. On May 8, the CDC updated their
guidance on how long people who are positive or presumed positive for
COVID-19 should self-isolate. Visit the
CDC website for more information.
Where can the public get up-to-date information?
Please check our main
COVID-19 portal page which will be regularly updated with the latest information from
Valley Presbyterian Hospital, including links to event and class cancellations
as well as messages from our CEO.
Our
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) page provides answers to many questions such as how to prevent the COVID-19
virus and what to do if you think you have it.
Our
Resources page has links to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health, City of Los Angeles, and World Health Organization
for up-to-date information locally, nationally and worldwide.
Return to COVID-19 portal page