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

FDA Issues Consumer Warning on Some Hand Sanitizer Brands

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol), a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. FDA has identified the following products manufactured by Eskbiochem:

• All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
• Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
• Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
• The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
• CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
• Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)

FDA tested samples of Lavar Gel and CleanCare No Germ. Lavar Gel contains 81 percent (v/v) methanol and no ethyl alcohol, and CleanCare No Germ contains 28 percent (v/v) methanol. Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects.

Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate treatment, which is critical for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning. Substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death. Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk, young children who accidently ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning.

Guidelines for Landlords Navigating L.A. County’s Eviction Moratorium

In case you missed it, on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors extended a moratorium on evictions in parts of Los Angeles County (including Rancho Palos Verdes) in response to the COVID-19 emergency to July 31.

The temporary eviction moratorium covers all residential and commercial tenants in L.A. County, except those who live or conduct business in cities that have already enacted their own eviction moratoria. The moratorium includes a ban on evictions for nonpayment of rent, if the tenant can show they have been financially impacted by the health emergency, among other protections.

The order also extends the temporary rent freeze in the unincorporated areas of L.A. County. Property owners may not increase rent for rental units or spaces covered by L.A. County’s Rent Stabilization and Mobilehome Rent Stabilization ordinances.

These actions are retroactive to March 4, 2020.

In the interest of both property owners and tenants, the L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has developed guidelines to help landlords understand the county’s temporary eviction moratorium and take proactive steps now. The guidelines, available at dcba.lacounty.gov/noevictions, include the following topics that owners should consider as they plan for the months ahead:

• Applicability for residential and commercial tenants
• How to determine reasonable financial impacts
• Notice requirements and documentation
• Guidance for repayment of rent once the moratorium is lifted
• Resolving disputes between landlords and tenants

DCBA also provides expanded foreclosure prevention assistance for landlords with 15 or fewer units. If you are a renter or property owner facing financial difficulty, contact DCBA to learn about available resources.

For more details, please contact a DCBA Rent Stabilization counselor by calling (833) 223-RENT (7368); email rent@dcba.lacounty.gov; or visit rent.lacounty.gov.

Next Day COVID-19 Testing Still Available in L.A. County

Free COVID-19 testing is available in Los Angeles County for next day appointments at a variety of sites.

Currently, there are four sites with availability subject to change below. Individuals still need to register for a next-day appointment in advance and are encouraged to visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing for an up-to-date list of sites that have availability, as this may change over the course of the day.

As of noon today, June 24, these are the following locations where individuals can register for an appointment:

• Crenshaw Christian Center: 7901 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, 90044
• Dodger Stadium: 1101 Scott Avenue, Los Angeles, 90012
• Lincoln Park: 3501 Valley Boulevard., Los Angeles, 90095
• West Valley - Warner Center: 6097 Canoga Avenue, Woodland Hills, 91367

Individuals are encouraged to call their primary care provider if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. If you do not have insurance and need help connecting with a healthcare provider, dial 2-1-1. Testing capacity within the established health system has improved greatly over the past weeks and months; wherever possible, individuals should receive testing in consultation with their healthcare provider to ensure continuity of care and optimal follow-up.

Wash Your Hands and Do It Often

Good hand hygiene can slow the spread of COVID-19. Make sure you are washing your hands for 20 seconds or more and getting these commonly-missed areas:

• thumbs
• between the fingers
• backs of fingers
• under the nails
• tops and palms of hands
• wrists, front and back

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.

DMV to Resume Behind-the-Wheel Drive Tests with New Protocols

The California Department of Motor Vehicles will resume administering behind-the-wheel drive tests beginning Friday, June 26. In-vehicle testing – a requirement for first-time driver license holders and commercial license applicants – has been suspended since mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The DMV will automatically reschedule all canceled drive test appointments.

The DMV anticipates it will take several weeks to complete testing for previously canceled tests. Appointments for new behind-the-wheel tests will not be available until previously canceled tests are completed.

For the health and safety of customers and examiners, the DMV is instituting numerous new testing protocols. All behind-the-wheel drive test applicants will be required to wear a face covering and answer screening questions before starting the exam.

Read more at: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-resumes-behind-the-wheel-drive-tests-with-new-protocols-on-friday/

Wastewater Fee Rebate for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

If your business closed or had reduced wastewater discharges due to COVID-19, it may qualify for a rebate from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. This program provides a partial rebate of the fiscal year 2019-20 Sanitation District service charge payment made on your property tax bill. To see if you qualify, email rebate@lacsd.org.
 
For more information, visit lacsd.org/covidrebate

Cases

As of June 24, there are 89,490 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 125 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes, 48 in Palos Verdes Estates, 21 in Rolling Hills Estates and two in Rolling Hills. Countywide, 3,205 people have died.

According to the Department of Public Health, 12 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/