Dear Residents,

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes continues to monitor the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Los Angeles County and would like to share the following updates with the community:

The Latest

L.A. County Adds Drive-Up Testing Site at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

• Visit the website lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs
• Answer a series of questions. The answers determine if you are eligible for an appointment. 
• If you are eligible, you will receive an appointment confirmation number by email. 
• Bring the confirmation number and photo ID to your appointment.
• People with no access to the Internet can dial 2-1-1 for help making an appointment. 
• People without a car can be tested as long as they have an appointment. The sites can accommodate pedestrians.
• There are NO walk-up appointments available for people who do not register. 
• For a full list of locations and answers to questions about testing, go to covid19.lacounty.gov.

Cases

As of April 20, there are 13,816 known cases of novel coronavirus across Los Angeles County, including the South Bay, so the public should not think one location is safer than another and everyone should be aware and practice physical distancing. The total includes 49 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes, 36 in Palos Verdes Estates and 13 in Rolling Hills Estates. Countywide, 617 people have died.

To date, the City is aware of the deaths of two residents who reportedly contracted the novel coronavirus. We extend our deepest condolences to the residents’ families and ask for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.

In Rancho Palos Verdes, Belmont Village and a Pacific Sunrise Home are included on the county’s list of long-term care facilities with at least one resident who developed symptoms while in the facility and tested positive for COVID-19.

For a list of cases broken down by city and age group, visit: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/locations.htm

It’s important to note that the total number of confirmed cases that the Department of Public Health shares every day reflects a moment in time and may not include cases confirmed by commercial labs that have not yet been shared with the Department of Public Health. A commercial lab may share a positive result with a physician before the health department.

Early Results of Antibody Testing Suggest Number of COVID-19 Infections Far Exceeds Number of Confirmed Cases in Los Angeles County

USC and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today released preliminary results from a collaborative scientific study that suggests infections from the new coronavirus are far more widespread - and the fatality rate much lower - in L.A. County than previously thought.

The results are from the first round of an ongoing study by USC researchers and public health officials. They will be conducting antibody testing over time on a series of representative samples of adults to determine the scope and spread of the pandemic across the county.

Based on results of the first round of testing, the research team estimates that approximately 4.1% of the county's adult population has antibody to the virus. Adjusting this estimate for statistical margin of error implies about 2.8% to 5.6% of the county's adult population has antibody to the virus- which translates to approximately 221,000 to 442,000 adults in the county who have had the infection. That estimate is 28 to 55 times higher than the 7,994 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the county by the time of the study in early April. The number of COVID-related deaths in the county has now surpassed 600.

Read a full press release at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phcommon/public/media/mediapubdetail.cfm?unit=media&ou=ph&prog=media&cur=cur&prid=2328&row=25&start=1

What is antibody testing?

Antibody testing for COVID-19 includes the use of a serologic test. This test measures a person's antibodies to COVID-19, and shows us the body’s immune system response to the infection. As a result, the serologic test helps us detect both current and past COVID-19 infections.

 
Why is it important?

Antibody testing helps us better understand the spread of COVID-19 in L.A. County, and the risk of hospitalization or death among COVID-19 patients. It will also help us plan for future hospital bed and/or ventilator needs.
 
Still curious about antibody testing? Watch a video at: https://vimeo.com/406697169

Local Antibody Testing

 
Palos Verdes Medical Group is now offering drive-thru COVID-19 antibody tests (also known as serology tests) on the fourth (top) floor of the Promenade on the Peninsula mall. Testing is by appointment only and is open to both PVMG patients and community members of all ages. A telehealth visit is required prior to scheduling an antibody test. Eligible patients include, but are not limited to, those who had, but do not currently exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, people who may have been in contact with someone who was exposed to COVID-19, or individuals with high-risk jobs. This antibody test is $50 per person and is not currently covered by insurance.
 
To make an appointment for either an antibody test or a COVID-19 test, call PVMG at 310-544-6858 or email info@pvmedgroup.com.

Facebook Live Town Hall Meeting with Torrance Memorial CEO Craig Leach April 21

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi is holding a virtual town hall meeting this Tuesday, April 21 at 5 p.m. via Facebook Live with Craig Leach, President and CEO of Torrance Memorial Medical Center, to answer your questions and give an update on how the hospital is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit Assemblymember Muratsuchi’s Facebook page to tune in at facebook.com/Muratsuchi

Reminder: Parks, Beaches and Nature Preserve CLOSED

The City would like to remind residents that all City parks, beaches and open space areas, including the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, remain closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

City staff, Park Rangers and law enforcement are monitoring these areas.

These closures follow county and state guidance, along with similar closures by other cities, and were put in place March 23 after a weekend that saw a high volume of visitors despite the “Safer at Home” Order and physical distancing guidelines.

Please know that these closures are temporary. The more we all stay home except for essential needs and stick to walking in our neighborhoods, the sooner we will get through this and reopen the open space areas.

We’re all in this together, RPV. We will get through this together and resume our routines, but we need everyone to do their part to get us through sooner.

For a full list of closures, visit: bit.ly/2UexWwo

Other Closures

For a list of school, library, transit and other local closures, visit the Closure Information page on the City’s coronavirus webpage.

Open for Business

Need a list of Peninsula restaurants that are serving takeout and delivery? Or updated grocery store hours? Check out the Open for Business tab on the City’s coronavirus webpage. If you would like to add your business to this page or provide updated information, please email slee@rpvca.gov.

How You Can Help

Local Volunteer Match

PVPUSD School Board Member Linda Reid is coordinating a volunteer effort to match up senior citizens needing errand/grocery/meal help in PV with volunteers. PVPUSD students, parents, and alums unexpectedly home from college will assist! Any older residents may email Member Reid at reidl@pvpusd.net to be matched up with a local volunteer during this difficult isolating time. 

Find out other ways to help by visiting the How You Can Help page on the City’s coronavirus webpage.

City Hall Closed

As a reminder, to reduce the risk of community spread of COVID-19, through at least May 15, City Hall and park buildings are closed to the public, and all recreational activities, classes and events at City facilities have been canceled. The City will primarily be providing essential city services that are necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our community and City employees. To facilitate these measures, all non-essential staff will be working remotely. Inquiries will be reviewed daily and will be responded to on a case-by-case basis. Please note that our response to your inquiry could be delayed.

Community Development Department applications and permit requests may be submitted to planning@rpvca.gov. 

Non-emergency service requests may be submitted at http://www.rpvca.gov/FormCenter/NonEmergency-Customer-Service-Requests-3/NonEmergency-Customer-Service-Requests-43. 

Public Works service requests may be submitted at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/6d13530e7ca84edbb5c4e022bdc54da8. 
 
Please visit the appropriate department page on the City website for a list of phone numbers and email addresses to accommodate your needs:
 
City Manager
City Clerk
Community Development
Finance
Human Resources
Public Works
Recreation, Parks & Open Space
RPVtv
 
Overall Staff Directory

Resources

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus
California Department of Public Health: cdph.ca.gov/covid19 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): cdc.gov/COVID19
World Health Organization: who.int/coronavirus
California Governor’s Office: covid19.ca.gov
County of Los Angeles: lacounty.gov/covid19
L.A. County residents can also call 2-1-1
FEMA Coronavirus Rumor Control: https://www.fema.gov/Coronavirus-Rumor-Control
 
Sign up for “Notify Me” City listervs at rpvca.gov/notify

Be sure to also follow the City on Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 
 
Sign up for emergency alerts from Alert SouthBay by:

• Texting “alertsb” to 888-777, which returns a link to register for Everbridge (for COVID-19-related alerts, text the keyword "cv19rpv")
• Registering online at alertsouthbay.com
• Downloading the free Everbridge app on an iOS or Android device from the App Store or Google Play. Select “Find an organization or subscription” and search “alertsb”

Sign up for emergency alerts from Alert LA County at https://lacounty.gov/emergency/alert-la/ 

The City Council is committed to keeping you informed on this ever-changing situation, and thanks you for your cooperation and support. The City reminds all residents that closures and cancellations announced by the City and other agencies and institutions are being implemented because public health officials advise that physical distancing is the best and most effective tool to slow the spread of coronavirus.