As students return to school after holiday travel and festivities, respiratory illnesses are at high levels in Los Angeles and the JN.1 Covid strain has become dominant. LAUSD and the LA County Department of Public health suggest parents follow these guidelines for determining when a child should be home, come to school and how to stay healthy.
Masks will still be required for unvaccinated residents indoors and for everyone in select settings such as in hospitals and nursing homes or while aboard public transit.
The sobering number undoubtedly will continue to climb in the days and weeks ahead even as the state emerges from the worst of this winter's Omicron surge.