The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday 71 new cases and three new deaths from COVID-19 in the Santa Clarita Valley within the last week.

Public Health is now reporting COVID-19 data every Thursday. This is the most recent data from April 27.

This new data brings Los Angeles County death totals to 36,199, county case totals to 3,736,268 and Santa Clarita Valley case totals to 99,282 since March of 2020. SCV deaths from COVID-19 rise to 557.

Bivalent Vaccine Formulated to Protect Against Omicron Strains

With the first cases of the newest Omicron strain confirmed in Los Angeles County, residents are being asked to be aware of possible new COVID-19 symptoms, which include conjunctivitis, more commonly known as “pink eye,” and take the same sensible COVID precautions to help avoid infection from the new and likely more communicable XBB.1.16 strain, also known as “Arcturus.”

Public Health has confirmed three reported cases of the new strain. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that XBB.1.16 currently accounts for 8% of COVID-19 cases in California and 10% nationally.

Local reporting is delayed due to the time it takes for samples to be sequenced after reported to Public Health. The CDC has advanced models that predict the levels at which each strain is currently circulating.

Observational data suggests that people infected with XBB.1.16 may be more likely to experience conjunctivitis as a symptom of their COVID infection, along with more traditional COVID symptoms, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Conjunctivitis can be painful and itchy, highly contagious and, if left untreated, can cause damage to the cornea. Historically, conjunctivitis was reported in 1-3% of COVID-19 cases.

Given limited data, it is too early to know with certainty if XBB.1.16 is truly associated with higher rates of conjunctivitis, amid an already active allergy season in Southern California. However, residents should be aware that itchy, watery or red eyes may be a sign of a COVID-19 infection and these symptoms should not be simply dismissed as a result of pollen or seasonal allergies, especially if someone more vulnerable to severe illness could be exposed. At-home COVID-19 testing is an important tool to use to rule out possible COVID-19. And because untreated conjunctivitis can cause eye damage, those who suspect conjunctivitis should speak with their health care provider.

Free COVID-19 at-home tests can still be picked up at libraries and community sites across Los Angeles County and at Public Health vaccination sites or ordered through the federal government. Additionally, insurance policies are still required to reimburse each member for up to eight COVID-19 tests per month. Information is available at ph.lacounty.gov/COVIDtests.

Because XBB.1.16 is a descendant of the Omicron variant, current vaccines and therapeutics are highly likely to remain protective and able to ward off severe illness. The fact that we are seeing new strains, with possibly new and different symptoms, tells us that COVID continues to evolve and the way we think about our protections should reflect what we know.

As XBB.1.16 has a mutation that results in greater potential for infection, older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions may want to take extra precautions to avoid infection, including making sure they have received a bivalent booster, frequent hand washing, avoiding touching their eyes and face, staying home when sick and testing. Those at higher risk of severe illness may also want to consider masking in crowded places.

Public Health is offering bivalent vaccines and boosters to eligible residents at no cost, regardless of their insurance or immigration status, at hundreds of locations throughout Los Angeles County. Vaccination locations and appointments can be found at VaccinateLACounty.com or VacunateLosAngeles.com (en español) or by calling 1-833-540-0473.

For residents who have difficulties leaving their home, Public Health offers free in-home COVID-19 vaccine and booster appointments. Appointments may be booked at ph.lacounty.gov/vaxathome or by calling the Public Health COVID-19 Call Center at 1-833-540-0473.

The weekly reported case count for COVID-19 decreased slightly to 2,659 compared to 3,114 last week. However, the small increase in wastewater concentrations of SARS-COV-2 this week, may reflect the beginning of more spread associated with a new strain of Omicron. The 7-day average number of COVID hospitalizations is 275 this week, a decrease from 328 last week, likely reflecting the effectiveness of vaccines, boosters and therapeutics in reducing severe illness. Reported weekly deaths increased slightly from 44 last week to 54 this week.

Los Angeles County remains in the CDC’s Low COVID-19 Community Level for the 15th consecutive week. This includes a weekly reported case rate of 26 new cases per 100,000 people. The 7-day total for new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people is currently 2.9. And the 7-day average of the proportion of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients is now 1.6%.

As of Tuesday, April 25, there have been a total of 36,199 deaths in Los Angeles County.

Public Health is now reporting COVID data weekly. The following table shows the weekly reported case counts, average number of daily hospitalizations, and weekly reported death counts in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks.
Public Health is now reporting COVID data weekly. The following table shows the weekly reported case counts, average number of daily hospitalizations and weekly reported death counts in Los Angeles County over the past four weeks.

1) Weekly case and death counts represent the number of cases and deaths reported for the week ending each Tuesday. The date a case/death is reported by DPH is not the same as the date of testing or death.

2) Wastewater concentrations reflect the week ending each Saturday, with a one-week lag.

3) Hospitalization data represents average number of COVID-positive hospitalizations for the week ending each Tuesday. Data for past weeks is subject to change in future reports.

4) Emergency department data represents average number of coronavirus classified encounters for the week ending each Sunday. Data for past weeks is subject to change in future reports.

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 Locations & Demographics (data by demographic characteristics and geography, active outbreaks, and citations)

 – COVID-19 Response Plan

 – COVID-19 Vaccinations

 – Skilled Nursing Facility Metrics

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

– CDC Spanishhttps://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

William S. Hart Union High School District COVID-19 Dashboard

Since the State of Emergency has been lifted, the William S. Hart Union High School District will no longer be posting dashboard information.

Santa Clarita Valley Thursday Update

As of 3 p.m. Thursday, the L.A. County Public Health dashboard reported three additional deaths from COVID-19 in the city of Santa Clarita, bringing the total number of deaths in the SCV to 557.

NOTE: As of Dec. 20, 2022, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health switched to a new geocoding process to improve the accuracy and completeness of geocoded data. Geocoding is the process of assigning an address to specific geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude). As a result, approximately 1,500 cases (0.04%) were removed from the cumulative count as they were determined to be out of jurisdiction with the improved geocoding. The switch to this improved process also resulted in minor changes to cumulative case/death counts by Supervisor District, Service Planning Area, city/community, and area poverty categories.

The following is the community breakdown per L.A. County’s dashboard:

Santa Clarita: 455

Castaic: 30 (revised from 33)

Acton: 18 (revised from 19)

Stevenson Ranch: 18

Unincorporated Canyon Country: 11

Agua Dulce: 7

Val Verde: 6

Elizabeth Lake: 4

Lake Hughes: 2

Valencia: 2

Unincorporated Bouquet Canyon: 2

Newhall: 1

Unincorporated Saugus/Canyon Country: 1

SCV Cases

Of the 99,282 cases reported to Public Health for the SCV to date, the community breakdown is as follows:

Santa Clarita: 73,370

Castaic: 9,608

Stevenson Ranch: 5,978

Canyon Country: 3,759

Acton: 2,013

Val Verde: 1,221

Agua Dulce: 992

Valencia: 934

Saugus: 343

Elizabeth Lake: 288

Bouquet Canyon: 206

Lake Hughes: 203

Saugus/Canyon Country: 131

Newhall: 105

Sand Canyon: 63

San Francisquito: 44

Placerita Canyon: 24

*Note: The county is unable to break out separate numbers for Castaic and PDC/NCCF because the county uses geotagging software that cannot be changed at this time, according to officials. Click here for the LASD COVID-19 dashboard.

California Thursday By the Numbers

With the recent end of the California COVID-19 State of Emergency, CDPH will sunset weekly COVID-19 data news releases. All data will continue to be updated regularly on the state’s COVID-19 data dashboard on Thursdays.​

Update for April 27, 2023