In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Shruti Gohil, professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine. Topics today include:  COVID-19 and the Super Bowl:   COVID-19 protocols for fans.  Poll shows Californians more cautious about COVID-19 ahead of the Super Bowl.   Hosting a Super Bowl viewing party? Here are some COVID-19 safety tips.  With Omicron in retreat, L.A. may start to scrap its mask requirements next week.  L.A. and Orange counties post highest COVID-19 death rates in 11 months.  California to debate mandating COVID-19 vaccines at all workplaces.  Coronavirus can destroy the placenta and lead to stillbirths.  Daily COVID-19 numbers.  This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of the department of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.  Topics today include:  Mask mandates will be lifted in most bay areas communities next week.  New study finds COVID-19 induced heart damage can be long lasting.  L.A. County hospitalizations continue to decline, near threshold to lift mask mandate.  Gov. Newsom teases new strategy to treat COVID-19 as endemic.  Pharmacists and technicians are burning out as they bear the brunt of the pandemic.  This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Timothy Brewer, epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s school of public health.  Topics today include:  L.A. County health director says indoor mask mandate won’t be lifted for weeks.  C.D.C. director: COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations still too high for changes to mask guidance.  COVID-19 hospitalizations continue downward trend, now 30% below the peak.  J&J pauses production of its COVID-19 vaccine.  Will a mask protect me even if no one else is wearing one?  Can you get long COVID after an infection with Omicron?   This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.  Topics today include:  California’s indoor mask mandate will expire on Feb. 16 for the vaccinated.  L.A. County’s mandate will remain in place until transmission levels fall.  Lessons learned as we enter year 3 of the pandemic.  The future of the pandemic is becoming more clear.  Deer populations could harbor the coronavirus long term.  The BA.2 variant of Omicron is spreading rapidly across Europe.  Previously uncatalogued mutations of coronavirus are popping up in California sewage.  California appears close to changing school masking rules.  This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center.  Topics today include:  L.A. County hospitalizations continue to decline.  Why Americans are behind on getting boosted.  Does just being exposed to Omicron build your immunity?  C.D.C.shortens interval between 3rd and booster shot for the immunocompromised The world is likely more sick than it has been in 100 years.  “Broken heart” cases are surging amidst pandemic.  New Jersey to end state mask mandate for schools.  This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg, professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.   Topics today include:  L.A. County unveils plans to drop some mask rules once COVID conditions improve.  Californians feel less optimistic about the pandemic than they did last spring.  San Francisco physicians start petition calling for state to pivot on school COVID guidelines.  Opinion: The smallest kids still lack a vaccine. The F.D.A. must leave no uncertainty.  A different COVID-19 vaccine debate: Do we need new shots? Omicron variant's "milder" severity likely due to more population immunity, according to Harvard researchers.  Johns Hopkins analysis finds lockdowns only reduced COVID-19 death rate by 0.2%.  This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine Dr. Shruti Gohil.  Topics today include:  Could the Omicron surge wind down by early March?  Why do some people get COVID when others don’t?  L.A. County health officials double down on mask mandate ahead of the Super Bowl.  California’s indoor mask mandate is set to expire February 15 – should it be extended?  Johnson & Johnson recipients can get a third COVID-19 shot in San Francisco.  Why nasal COVID-19 vaccines may make better boosters.  As with vaccines, equity becomes an issue with COVID-19 medications.  This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Kristen R. Choi, professor of nursing and public health at UCLA.  Topics today include:  The status of the nursing profession as the pandemic goes on. Pfizer asks the F.D.A. to allow COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5.  U.S. has far higher COVID death rate than other wealthy countries.  A study finds that vaccines provide robust protection against Omicron.  Fast-spreading Omicron variant is more likely to cause reinfection.  Denmark halts virus restrictions. The rest of Europe is a patchwork.  Disneyland requires vaccines for workers but not for visitors.  Omicron hit poor L.A. communities of color hardest.  Johns Hopkins analysis finds lockdowns only reduced COVID-19 death rate by 0.2%.  This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Tara Vijayan, associate professor of infectious diseases and medical director of antimicrobial stewardship at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.  Topics today include:  Pfizer expected to ask the F.D.A. to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5.  Novavax applies for F.D.A. authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine.  Why Omicron hit Southern California harder than the Bay Area.  L.A. County health officials face pressure to ease indoor mask rules.  Even if they can find a test, not everyone wants to know if they have COVID.  What role should health providers play in COVID-19 testing?  This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with the director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Dr. Kimberly Shriner.  Topics today include:  Moderna announces full U.S. approval for its COVID-19 vaccine.  New C.D.C. data shows the effectiveness of boosters.  L.A. County’s daily coronavirus cases continue dramatic decline, but death rate remains high.  Optimism at L.A. County’s nursing homes as coronavirus surge declines.  People who are boosted against COVID-19 will be exempt from San Francisco’s mask mandate in certain group settings.  New clues about who will develop Long COVID.  Omicron pushes health authorities toward learning to live with COVID-19.  Opinion: What we can learn from how the 1918 pandemic ended.  This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.