Updated: May 16, 2023
This page is our official COVID-19 center for news and updates.
Please get a COVID-19 vaccine and booster dose if you are able, wear a well-fitting and high-quality mask when required, and frequently wash your hands. The City of Signal Hill is under the jurisdiction of the L.A. County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and must follow all County, State and Federal orders. Please read the latest L.A. County Public Health Officer Order (PDF).
Vaccine Information
Please get vaccinated and boosted. Vaccines and boosters are our most powerful tools against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Getting a booster dose when eligible is just as important for protection, especially with new variants of the virus. Visit the County of Los Angeles COVID-19 vaccine information page to learn more. 
Latest Case Numbers
News
May 16, 2023:
As U.S. Emergency Declarations End, Access to COVID-19 Protections Continues for Los Angeles County Residents.
As the U.S. Public Health Emergency and the National Emergency Declaration for COVID-19 end today, following last week’s announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) that COVID-19 is no longer considered a global public health emergency, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) remains committed to ensuring all residents have access to the tools they need to keep community transmission low.
Official News Release
January 12, 2023:
THE UPDATED (BIVALENT) BOOSTERS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR EVERYONE AGES 6 MONTHS AND OLDER WITH ONE EXCEPTION:
Children 6 months though 4 years of age who finished a Pfizer vaccine primary series are not eligible for a booster dose at this time.
The updated boosters target the most recent Omicron subvariants (BA.4/BA.5) as well as the original COVID-19 virus. The updated boosters can help restore protection against COVID-19 that has decreased over time and provide broader protection against newer variants. The original (monovalent) Pfizer and Moderna boosters are no longer available.
One updated booster is recommended at least 2 months after your last COVID-19 vaccine dose (either the final primary series dose or the last original [monovalent] booster). This is regardless of how many original (monovalent) boosters or which type of vaccine(s) were received in the past. Children ages 11 and under get a lower dose of the updated booster than teens and adults.
Ages 5 and older
- Children age 5 who completed a Moderna primary series can get either a Pfizer or Moderna updated booster.
- Children age 5 who completed a primary series of Pfizer vaccine get the Pfizer updated booster.
- Everyone ages 6 and older can get either a Pfizer or Moderna updated booster.
Ages 6 months through 4 years
- Children who completed a primary series of Moderna vaccine can get the Moderna updated booster.
- Children who completed a primary series of Pfizer vaccines are not eligible for a booster dose at this time. Note: the Pfizer primary series for this age group now includes a bivalent (updated) vaccine for the 3rd dose.
Alternative booster option for certain people ages 18 and older
People ages 18 and older may receive a Novavax (monovalent) vaccine as a booster instead of getting the recommended updated Pfizer or Moderna booster if they meet all the following criteria:
- They are unable or unwilling to receive an updated booster (for instance, if they are severely allergic to the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines); AND
- They have completed primary series vaccination; AND
- They have never had a booster before.
The Novavax booster is given at least 6 months after completing the last dose of the primary series.
Visit the CDC interactive Getting your COVID-19 Booster tool to help determine when/if you (or your child) can get COVID-19 boosters.
December 22, 2022:
BOOST YOUR PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE COVID-19
If it has been at least 2 months since your last dose, get an updated booster dose now. One updated (bivalent) booster dose is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older with one exception. Children 6 months though 4 years of age who finished a Pfizer vaccine primary series are not eligible for a booster dose at this time. It is especially important for people ages 65 and older to get a booster.
• The updated booster is due at least 2 months after a final primary series dose or an original booster dose.
• Side effects after booster doses are like those after the primary doses. Most side effects are mild to moderate and last a day or 2.
• A Novavax booster dose is available for people ages 18 and older who can’t get a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and have not had a booster dose before. It is given 6 months after completing a primary vaccine series.
• You can get a flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID vaccine!
BOOSTERS ARE RECOMMENDED EVEN IF YOU ALREADY HAD COVID
• Getting vaccinated provides added protection.
• Wait until you're out of isolation to get the booster. You can also consider waiting 3 months from when your symptoms started or when you first had a positive test (if you didn't have symptoms). You are unlikely to get COVID again during the 3 months. And a longer time between infection and vaccination may also result in a better immune response.
VACCINES ARE FREE - YOU DO NOT NEED INSURANCE
Visit VaccinateLACounty.com or call 1-833-540-0473 to learn more.
*You will not be asked about your immigration status.
November 16, 2022:
The Fall updated (bivalent) boosters are recommended for everyone ages 5 and older.
These Fall boosters have been updated to target the most recent Omicron subvariants (BA.4/BA.5) as well as the original COVID-19 virus. The BA.4/BA.5 subvariants are more contagious than earlier strains of Omicron. The updated boosters can help restore protection against COVID-19 that has decreased over time and provide broader protection against newer variants.
An updated booster is recommended for everyone ages 5 and older. It can be given at least 2 months after the last COVID-19 vaccine dose (either the final primary series dose or the last booster). This is regardless of how many boosters or which type of vaccine(s) were given in the past. Children ages 11 and under get a lower dose of the updated booster than teens and adults.
- Everyone ages 6 and older can get either a Pfizer or Moderna updated booster.
- Children ages 5 get the Pfizer updated booster.
Booster doses are not currently recommended for children ages 6 months through 4 years.
The original (monovalent) Pfizer and Moderna boosters are no longer available.
Alternative booster option for certain people ages 18 and older
People ages 18 and older may receive a Novavax (monovalent) vaccine as a booster instead of getting the recommended updated Pfizer or Moderna booster if they meet all of the following criteria:
- They are unable or unwilling to receive an updated booster (for instance, if they are severely allergic to the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines); AND
- They have completed primary series vaccination; AND
- They have never had a booster before.
The Novavax booster is given at least 6 months after completing the last dose of the primary series.
Visit the CDC interactive Getting your COVID-19 Booster tool to help determine when/if you (or your child) can get COVID-19 boosters.
August 26, 2022:
As thousands of individuals in Los Angeles County continue to be infected with COVID-19, medical treatments are readily available to prevent patients who have one or more risk factors from becoming very sick, hospitalized, or dying from the infection. Residents who do become infected should contact their health provider as soon as possible because the treatments work best when symptoms are still mild or moderate.
There is an ample supply of potentially life-saving treatments – more than 135,000 – available at more than 1,000 hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, Public Health sites, and other locations across the county.
Residents who may be at higher risk of getting very sick if infected, including those who are 50 or older, unvaccinated or not up-to-date with vaccinations, and many other factors, can be treated with either an oral medication, Paxlovid or Molnupiravir, or an intravenous medication, Remdesivir or Bebtelovimab.
Paxlovid can be prescribed to people age 12 and older. It is taken by mouth twice daily for 5 days. Molnupiravir is only for adults age 18 and older and should not be given to a pregnant person. It is taken by mouth twice daily for 5 days.
So far, nearly 153,000 patient antiviral treatments have been administered in LA County, and medications are widely available, with more locations being added. Of the more than 1,000 health care facilities that have been allocated therapeutic medications to treat COVID, more than half of these sites are located in communities with the fewest resources and greatest health risk.
Also, 135 of these sites are convenient Test-to-Treat locations. These sites include CVS Minute Clinics and Walgreens that allow patients to walk in to get tested for COVID-19, evaluated, and treated on the same visit at the same location. To find a Test-to-Treat sites, residents can go to https://aspr.hhs.gov/TestToTreat/Pages/default.aspx.
August 2, 2022: LA County vaccination sites will start administering the Novavax vaccine beginning Wednesday, August 3. The Novavax vaccine was recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month. Unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the Novavax vaccine was developed without the use of mRNA technology. The vaccine was found to be 90% effective against mild, moderate, and severe disease in the company’s Phase 3 clinical trial involving 30,000 participants ages 18 and older.
Residents 18 years and older can get the Novavax vaccine, which is a two-dose primary series, with the second dose administered three weeks after the first. Boosters are currently not recommended and the Novavax vaccine is not yet authorized for children 17 and younger.
Residents can walk into any Public Health vaccination location to receive the vaccine. Residents can also contact their provider to see if their provider is offering Novavax. Visit VaccinateLACounty.com to learn about locations, and schedules for clinics offering these and other COVID-19 vaccines.
June 18, 2022: Children older than 6 months can now get vaccinated against COVID-19! Over 900 locations across Los Angeles County are now vaccinating children ages 6 months and older. Visit VaccinateLACounty.com to learn about locations, and schedules for clinics offering these and other COVID-19 vaccines.
June 14, 2022: Please see the latest COVID-19 presentation (PDF) from City Manager Hannah Shin-Heydorn, presented at the June 14 City Council meeting.
April 22, 2022: The L.A. County Health Officer Order (PDF) is revised to continue to require masks in all public transit within the County, such as, commuter trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-shares, and indoor transportation hubs, such as, airport terminals, bus, train and subway stations, marina or port stations. It remains the CDC’s continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking for indoor public transit is necessary for public health. This masking requirement will be reassessed when: community transmission of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County drops to the Moderate Level OR the CDC’s assessment is that an order requiring masking in the transportation corridor is no longer necessary for protection of the public’s health OR within 30 days of this Order, whichever occurs first.
April 8, 2022: With the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, residents planning to gather for Spring holidays should follow all safety precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19 or being part of an outbreak. The average number of daily new cases reported over the last 7 days increased to 892, a 23% increase from the average of 724 daily new cases over the previous 7 days. This increase in cases is likely due to the more easily transmitted BA.2 subvariant, which continues to increase in L.A. County.
March 29, 2022: Today, the FDA authorized a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for individuals 50 years of age and older at least 4 months after they received their first booster dose. Local public health clinics will begin distributing second booster doses to those eligible starting March 30, 2022. Please consider getting this booster dose if you are eligible. Visit our vaccines page to learn more.
March 17, 2022: Effective Saturday, March 19, the City will move to optional indoor masking for staff and the public. Please note that if any City facility reports 3 or more concurrent employee cases, that facility will be required to mask for two weeks. Please also note that the City will align with L.A. County Public Health guidelines if they are updated to require masking in the future. We appreciate your continued understanding and support as we navigate this latest phase in the pandemic.
March 9, 2022: The City is providing free COVID-19 rapid tests to Signal Hill residents. You may pick up two (2) tests per resident at City Hall Monday through Friday between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please bring proof of residency such as a photo ID, recent utility bill, etc. Please come to the front counter on the main level and ask for Sarah.
Testing for COVID-19
L.A. County Public Health recommends testing for anyone with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or a recent exposure, regardless of vaccination status or recent infection. It is important to get a COVID-19 test, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines:
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19
- If you are a close contact to someone with COVID-19
- If you have traveled internationally or to areas in the US where COVID-19 is spreading quickly
- As an extra layer of protection to protect others from getting sick, such as before and after attending a gathering or event. This is especially important if you or someone you are meeting or you live with is at higher risk for severe COVID-19.
Local Testing Options
- The City is providing free COVID-19 rapid tests to Signal Hill residents. You may pick up two (2) test kits per resident at City Hall Monday through Friday between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please bring proof of residency such as a photo ID, recent utility bill, etc. Please come to the front counter on the main level and ask for Sarah.
- The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services offers free PCR/lab tests. Please see VaxLB for information about the City of Long Beach's available testing options.
- L.A. County Public Health also offers free PCR/lab tests for City of Signal Hill residents. Learn more and make an appointment online.
- Local pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, etc.) and drugstores may offer COVID-19 tests (both rapid and PCR). Call or visit their website for current availability.
- Rapid test kits may be available online or at local drugstores.
- Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of rapid test kits from USPS.com. One order includes 8 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Visit www.covidtests.gov to sign up. This effort is part of a federal program to provide free at-home COVID-19 tests with free shipping to every residential address and residential P.O. Box in the United States. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a 3rd round of free at-home tests.
Extended Expiration Dates for COVID-19 Tests
Did you know, that at-home COVID-19 tests have an expiration date that may have been extended? Check your test before using it. To learn more about expiration dates, visit the FDA’s webpage, At-Home COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests: Frequently Asked Questions.
Masks and Face Coverings
Please see the latest information on masks (PDF) from LACDPH. Wearing a mask gives you extra protection from getting infected and it protects other people. A good mask has multiple layers of non-woven material preferably with a nose wire. The very best protection comes from a well-fitted medical-grade mask such as a KN-95, KN94, N95 or other mask. Your mask should be have no gaps at the nose, sides of the face, or chin. You can rotate the use of these masks. Be sure to dispose of your mask when it shows signs of wear such as fraying, stretching or loose fibers.
Outdoor Mega Events and bars, lounges, nightclubs, wineries, breweries and distilleries are strongly encouraged to continue to require verification of vaccination status or test results, but this is no longer required. Indoor masking is strongly recommended but not required. Businesses may choose to maintain the indoor masking requirement.
Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations and Requirements
These LACDPH requirements are not applicable to healthcare personnel. If you test positive for COVID-19 or if your healthcare provider thinks you have COVID-19, regardless of vaccination, previous infection, or lack of symptoms, you must stay home for at least five (5) days.
Isolation can end after Day 5 ONLY if all of the following criteria are met:
- A COVID-19 viral test collected on Day 5 or later is negative
- No fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine
- Other symptoms are not present or are improving
If you are unable or unwilling to test, isolation can end after Day 10 if you have no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine and other symptoms are not present or are improving.
Wear a well-fitting medical grade mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings. Children should wear a well-fitting, non-cloth mask of multiple layers of non-woven material with a nose wire. See ph.lacounty.gov/masks for more information. Tell your close contacts that they have been exposed and need to follow instructions for close contacts at ph.lacounty.gov/covidquarantine. Follow the full isolation instructions for people with COVID-19 at ph.lacounty.gov/covidisolation.
To count the days: If you have symptoms, Day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed. If you do not have symptoms, Day 0 is the day your positive test was taken. Day 1 is the first full day after your positive test was taken.
CANotify
CA Notify is a free service that allows you to find out if you were exposed to COVID-19. You can also notify others if you test positive, while remaining anonymous. Your personal information is never collected, so you and those around you can stay safe. Visit CANotify.CA.gov to sign up.
Reporting Non-Compliance
LACDPH encourages residents and employees to report businesses that are in violation of LACDPH Health Officer Order protocols. Please do not contact the City of Signal Hill to report a violation. Instead, please call L.A. County at 888-700-9995 or visit http://www.ph.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/ to report non-compliance.
Social / Physical Distancing: Stay Six Feet Apart
Physical distancing reduces the risk of virus transmission, and is especially important if you are not fully vaccinated or are around someone who is not fully vaccinated. Physical distancing means to stay six feet apart from other people while away from home as much as possible.
City of Signal Hill Information
Capacity is limited at City Hall and the Community Services Department offices. Masks are strongly suggested for all individuals entering City facilities.
Use Trusted Sources for COVID-19 Information
We encourage you to use trusted sources to stay up-to-date. We will keep this page updated with information from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the California Department of Public Health, and the CDC. Please visit their websites directly for a wealth of information on COVID-19. You may also dial 2-1-1 for information and resources directly from L.A. County.
Symptoms
According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. They include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, a sudden loss of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhea, body aches, headache, and/or sore throat.
Staying Healthy and Slowing the Spread
- Please get a COVID-19 vaccine and booster. See our vaccine page for more information.
- Older adults and individuals with compromised immune systems or chronic medical conditions who have not been fully vaccinated should stay home as much as possible. Please visit the CDC’s website to learn more about people who are at higher risk for severe illness.
- Please stay home if you are sick, even if you are only mildly ill. Don’t wait until you are really sick to stay home. Keep children home if they are sick. Do not travel if you are sick. There are other viruses out there, and even you’re not sick with COVID-19, you don’t want to spread additional illness.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. You should vigorously lather your hands with soap, away from the running water, for at least 20 seconds. When rinsing your hands, make sure the water runs into the sink, away from your hands. Dry your hands with a paper towel, clean towel, or hand dryer. See Proper Hand Washing Prevents Illness for more on hand-washing protocol.
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth, eyes and face, especially if you have not recently washed your hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw the tissue away immediately and then wash your hands. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your elbow, then wash your hands.
- Regularly clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces, whether at home or at an essential workplace.
- Get immunized against the flu.
Travel
Please do not travel if you are sick, you have a recent positive COVID-19 viral test result, or you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 viral test after being exposed to the virus. You could spread COVID-19 to others. Please follow the CDC's domestic and international travel guidance for fully vaccinated people and for unvaccinated people. Please also see L.A. County Department of Health's Travel Advisory and Guidance page for more information.
Additional information:
Please review these trusted sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information on COVID-19.