PRESS RELEASE

The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is closely monitoring information regarding the COVID-19 variant Omicron. No cases of the new variant have been confirmed in the United States. A percentage of the City’s positive tests are sequenced to detect variants, and the Health Department will inform the community if Omicron is detected in Long Beach.

New variants will continue to evolve as long as there are large proportions of unvaccinated people. While nearly 84% of adults in Long Beach have received at least one vaccine dose, 66.8% of those eligible for vaccine (five years old and up) are fully vaccinated. Becoming fully vaccinated and getting the booster continues to be the most effective way to protect yourself and the community from the virus.

The Health and Human Services Department continues to encourage people to get vaccinated. Vaccines are safe, effective and free and are available to everyone 5 years of age and older. It's not too late for anyone eligible to get vaccinated or boosted to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. Appointments can be made at longbeach.gov/vaxlb. 

Anyone who has symptoms should stay home from work and leisure activities if they are feeling sick, and - regardless of their vaccination status - should get tested immediately for COVID-19. COVID-19 symptoms can feel like a common cold, seasonal allergies or the flu. 

Currently, the City’s positivity rate remains stable at 2.2%, with 8.7 cases per 100,000 people. By contrast, at this time last year, the positivity rate was 6%, with 31.6 cases per 100,000.