Dear Residents,

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

The Latest

Gyms, Day Camps, Spectator-Free Professional Sports, Museums and More to Reopen June 12

Los Angeles County is moving forward on the Roadmap to Recovery and reopening key economic and community sectors, including day camps, fitness centers, spectator-free professional sports, museums, campgrounds and entertainment production.

In the most comprehensive reopening since strict public health guidelines were put in place in March, today the Los Angeles Department of Public Health announced that the Health Officer Order will be modified tomorrow to include infection control and distancing requirements for re-opening the following sectors on June 12:

• Gyms and fitness facilities
• Professional sports without live audiences
• Day camps
• Museums, galleries, zoos and aquariums
• Campgrounds, RV parks and outdoor recreation
• Music, film and television production
• Hotels, lodging and short-term rentals for tourism and individual travel

The County continues to monitor the spread of the virus and the capacity of the healthcare system to provide residents with essential services. 

With these reopenings, L.A. County will be in Phase 3 of the State’s Resilience Roadmap.

However, this major step forward does not mean the threat of COVID-19 is gone. Residents must continue to practice physical distancing, wear cloth face coverings and follow public health directives.

If at any time, the County’s rate of infection and other key metrics demonstrate a rapid acceleration of new cases that threatens to overwhelm the healthcare system, the Department of Public Health and the Board of Supervisors may need to limit future re-openings or close reopened sectors.

Going to the gym, visiting a museum or going to camp will be very different than it was before the pandemic. Each sector reopening will have strict infection control directives in place.

Just as is required for all out-of-home activities, visitors and staff will have to practice physical distancing and wear cloth face coverings. There will be limited capacity and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures. People feeling sick should stay home.

These additional re-openings follow other significant elements of the economy and community that have begun reopening and operating with limits and safeguards, including hair salons, barber shops, religious services, retail, restaurants, beaches and trails.

Still closed are nail salons, tattoo shops, bars and wineries, movie theaters, live performance theaters, entertainment centers, concert halls and venues, stadiums, arenas, gaming facilities, theme parks and festivals.

L.A. County is still under a Safer at Work and in the Community order and public and private gatherings of people outside of a single household unit are not permitted except for public protests and faith-based services.

Everyone must continue to follow physical distancing and infection control protocols and wear a cloth face covering when in contact with others not from your household.

The plans for reopening are part of a phased progression that provides residents, employees and customers with safety protections to slow the spread of COVID-19.

At a Glance: Highlights of the Guidelines for Reopening

Gyms and fitness facilities

• Employees and customers will be screened for symptoms, including cough and fever. Gym-goers feeling unwell should reschedule their appointment.
• Staff must wear a cloth face covering at all times.
• Gym-goers must wear a cloth face covering when entering and exiting the gym and it is recommended that they be worn while exercising in the gym.
• Physical distancing must be maintained and equipment may be rearranged to allow for that.
• Reservations for time at the gym are recommended as occupancy will be limited.
• Equipment must be cleaned before and after each use with provided disinfecting wipes or the gym must provide “ready to clean” tags for staff to clean equipment after each use.
• Personal trainers must maintain six feet of distance from their clients and wear a face covering. Clients are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering while receiving instruction.
• Group training class sizes will be limited to ensure a minimum of six feet of physical distance between patrons. Group exercise classes can only be offered if distancing requirements can be maintained and there is no person-to-person physical contact.
• High contact programs that require close contact less than six feet in distance are not allowed.
• Pools at fitness facilities may reopen once employees properly clean and disinfect for use in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
• Saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs remain closed.

• Employees and campers will be screened for symptoms, including fever. Each camper's temperature will be taken before camp begins. Campers feeling unwell should stay home.
• Physical distancing measures will be in place.
• Staff must wear cloth face coverings and campers are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings.
• Outdoor activities are encouraged
• Campers should bring their own meals, when possible.

• Interactive exhibits will be closed.
• Capacity will be limited.
• Tours and live presentations in confined areas, such as an animal show, must only include members of the same household.

• Plan ahead. Make reservations and purchase permits, firewood, ice and other items online or by phone before arriving on site.
• Be prepared to be as self-contained and self-sufficient as possible. Bring everything you may need, including soap, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, paper towels/hand towels, and toilet paper. Bring your own sports equipment, towels, first aid supplies, and other items needed for outdoor recreation, whenever possible.
• Visitors should bring plastic tablecloths for picnic tables that can be disposed of or taken back home for washing.
• Set up your campsite or picnic areas with maximum distance from adjacent campsites and picnic sites that host people from different households.
• Many programs and facilities will be canceled or closed, so visitors should check online resources for updated information about rule changes and closures to know what to expect upon arrival. Playgrounds and other common spaces will be closed.
• Leave furniture, such as picnic tables and chairs, where they were found as park staff may have appropriately spaced these items to encourage physical distancing.
• Pack up what you pack in to keep campsite staff safe.

• All staff will be required to wear masks, follow physical distancing guidelines and be screened for symptoms before work.
• Athletes and staff must not have had signs or symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days or close contact with anyone who is sick within 14 days of beginning group training.
• Athletes must wear face coverings at all times other than while exercising.
• Physical distancing should be practiced to the extent possible on the field/in-game play and in training, though guidelines may be adjusted subject to limitations of competition and the fundamentals of certain sports.
• Broadcasters will have to practice physical distancing and camera placements will be different than pre-COVID-19.

• Employees, including housekeeping, must wear face coverings and limit touching guests’ belongings.
• Guests will be screened for symptoms. People experiencing symptoms will not be allowed an overnight stay. Guests who feel sick should not travel or stay in a hotel.
• Stringent cleaning and laundry protocols will be in place to protect staff and guests.
• Reusable materials in rooms, such as magazines, menus and local attraction details, will be removed.
• Rooms should be left vacant 24 to 72 hours after a guest has departed for proper cleaning.
• In the event of a presumptive case of COVID-19, the guest’s room will be removed from service and quarantined. In the event of a positive case, the room should only be returned to service after undergoing a deep cleaning in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
• Property managers, timeshare operators, and other rental unit owners and operators must only rent unoccupied units and cannot rent rooms or spaces within an occupied residence.
• Saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs will remain closed.

• Students and staff should wear face coverings during all educational activities at school or on a bus.
• Students and staff should engage in physical distancing at all times.
• Schools will be taking the temperature of students and staff before they enter the campus.

The Los Angeles County Office of Education released additional information earlier this week.

Marymount California University to Reopen in Fall with Both In-Person and Online Classes

Marymount California University will welcome students back to campus for the fall semester with a blend of in-person and online courses, as well as an adjusted academic calendar.

Many upper division courses and some labs will be held online while general education, psychology, criminal justice and most lower division business classes will be conducted in-person or in a hybrid fashion. Hybrid classes will meet in person once a week in sessions of no more than 15 students to allow social distancing. Online courses will be a mix of synchronous (live) and self-paced.

A revised calendar eliminates the fall break and shifts in-person classes to remote learning after the Thanksgiving break, with all remaining instruction, final projects and exams to be completed online to curb any possible spread of the coronavirus through holiday travel.

Additionally, MCU’s residential townhouse-style Villas will be single occupancy, offered at the lower double-room rate.

Students can expect changes when they return to campus on Aug. 24, including physical distancing requirements, daily health self-assessments, face coverings, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, hand sanitation stations, plexi-glass partitions in common areas, more outdoor seating, and signage of new health and safety procedures.

Read the full announcement at: https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/519040564/marymount-california-university-to-open-in-fall-with-both-in-person-and-online-classes

For more local reopening information, visit the Closure and Reopening Information page on the City’s coronavirus webpage.

Tomorrow is Takeout Thursday!

The community is encouraged to join in the “Takeout Tuesdays and Takeout Thursdays” initiative launched by the Peninsula cities and the PVP Chamber of Commerce by posting on social media and inviting friends and neighbors to order takeout, using Tuesdays and Thursdays as a special reminder.

Residents are asked to show their support by ordering takeout or delivery, not only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but on a regular basis throughout the coronavirus restrictions. Check the Open for Business page on the City website for a list of local restaurants offering takeout, delivery and curbside pickup.

L.A. County Animal Care and Control Waives Adoption Fees in June

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control has waived pet adoption fees for the month of June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The department is hoping to get more animals out of its care centers and into homes. This waiver includes adoption, microchip, and spay/neuter fees for all animals being adopted. Those choosing to adopt must still pay the animal license fee. For more information, visit animalcare.lacounty.gov.

Upcoming Local Blood Drive

Blood donations have decreased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthy, eligible donors are urged to come out and give to ensure there’s lifesaving blood on the shelves for those who need it.

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive on Tuesday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pacific Unitarian Universalist Church, 5621 Montemalaga Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes.
 
Reserve a time online at redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: PACIFICUNITARIANCHURCH.

Visit redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to complete the pre-donation paperwork.

The Red Cross has implemented additional precautions to ensure the safety of its donors and staff. There is no evidence that the novel coronavirus can be transmissible by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases worldwide of transmissions for any respiratory virus, including the novel coronavirus.

For more information, visit redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

Were you protesting near people who were not wearing masks?

If you recently participated in a protest near people who were not wearing face coverings, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommends you self-quarantine for two weeks and get tested for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms.

• Read self-quarantine instructions at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/docs/COVHomeQuarantine.pdf
• For information about COVID-19 testing, visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. To schedule a test, visit lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs. 

Celebrating your grad with a car parade?

If you are planning a celebration with a car parade, be sure to view the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s guidelines at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Reopening_carparades.pdf

Be Part of RPVtv’s #RPVTogether PSA

The City invites residents to join us in thanking all of our frontline workers, as well as community members who have stepped up to help our neighbors in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Share your photo, video or message of gratitude on social media with the hashtag #RPVTogether to be included in a special community public service announcement that will air on RPVtv. Submissions may also be emailed to mbarnes@rpvca.gov.
 
We are all in this together, RPV.

Cases

As of June 10, there are 67,064 confirmed cases of COVID-19 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 100 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes, 43 in Palos Verdes Estates, 14 in Rolling Hills Estates and two in Rolling Hills. Countywide, 2,768 people have died.

According to the Department of Public Health, 11 deaths have been reported in Rancho Palos Verdes. The City extends its deepest condolences to the families of these residents.

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

For an interactive dashboard with maps and graphs showing testing, cases and death data by community, poverty level, age, sex and race/ethnicity visit: http://dashboard.publichealth.lacounty.gov/covid19_surveillance_dashboard/

An interactive dashboard of COVID-19 cases in the South Bay maintained by the City of Torrance is available at bit.ly/2XB1fv1. The dashboard reflects information sourced by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

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/