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:

We’re Here

Although City Hall is closed for the weekend (and closed to the public in person through at least April 19), the City Council and City staff are monitoring communications from various government agencies and the public and will continue to share information with residents.

A webpage with coronavirus updates, resources and information on local closures is continuously being updated at rpvca.gov/coronavirus

Be sure to also follow the City on Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Latest

Cases

As of March 29, there are 2,136 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 social distancing, also known as physical distancing. The total includes 8 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes and 14 in Palos Verdes Estates. Countywide, 37 people have died.

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.

Reminder: Parks, Beaches and Nature Preserve CLOSED

Over the weekend, City Staff and Park Rangers largely observed compliance with the closure of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, all City parks, beaches, community centers, amenities and trails. However, personnel made contact with a considerable number of individuals, including residents living in neighborhoods with access to the Preserve, disregarding signs and barricades. To those of you who are doing the right thing, we appreciate your cooperation. To those who are not, realize you’re part of the problem you’re trying to escape.

For a full list of closures, read a press release at: bit.ly/2UexWwo

County Beaches and Hiking Trails CLOSED

On March 27, county officials revised the “Safer at Home” Public Health Officer Order to close all public beaches, trails, trailheads, piers, public beach parking lots, bike paths on the beach, and beach access points countywide through at least April 19. The closures are due to recent dramatic increases in COVID-19 cases and increased usage of beaches and hiking trails by many groups of people. Persons may continue to use currently open and publicly available park space, not prohibited by the order, for passive recreational activities, but must practice social distancing.

Please note that parks, beaches and open space areas in Rancho Palos Verdes, including the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, are CLOSED. Deane Dana Friendship Park and the South Coast Botanic Garden are partially closed.

To read the order addendum, visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/HOO_BeachesandTrails_3.27.20_FINAL.pdf

PVPUSD Campus Facilities Notice

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District has closed its facilities, and fields where they can be locked.

In accordance with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidelines, individuals may use accessible open spaces for exercise if they maintain social distancing requirements. As such, team sports are not allowed.

Thank you for cooperating with measures to protect the public health.

Closure Information

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

L.A. County Business and Worker Disaster Help Center

With the support of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Departments of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) and Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS) have launched the L.A. County Business and Worker Disaster Help Center, a new centralized call center and website providing free, one-on-one counseling and support for business owners and workers who have been adversely affected by the ongoing Coronavirus/COVID-19 emergency.

Whether you are a business owner struggling to keep your doors open or a worker who’s uncertain about their next paycheck, L.A. County now has a single location where you can get immediate help, tailored to your situation. You can get assistance from the L.A. County Business and Worker Disaster Help Center in the manner that’s most convenient to you:

Telephone: (833) 238-4450
Online: LACountyHelpCenter.org
Email: DisasterHelpCenter@lacounty.gov
Social media: @LACHelpCenter on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

The Business and Worker Disaster Help Center, operated jointly by DCBA and WDACS, is open to answer calls Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. With the support of our County partners, the Help Center is staffed with dedicated, helpful, and multilingual support. Participating County departments and State agencies include:

L.A. County Chief Executive Office
L.A. County Office of Emergency Management
L.A. County Child Support Services
L.A. County Counsel
L.A. County Internal Services Department
L.A. County Department of Public Social Services
L.A. County Treasurer and Tax Collector
L.A. County Library
L.A. County Department of Public Health
L.A. County Department of Regional Planning
California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

Torrance Memorial Medical Center Accepting In-Kind Donations

The local community has been incredibly supportive and so many have stepped up to help by donating critical medical supplies and equipment. In an effort to manage the overwhelming response, Torrance Memorial Medical Center has established guidelines for donations.

Anyone interested in donating items should visit www.torrancememorialfoundation.org/donate to view the list of acceptable donations and find the link to submit a request.

ALL SUPPLIES MUST BE IN UNOPENED, SEALED CONTAINERS WITH UNEXPIRED DATES. HOMEMADE ITEMS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME.

Acceptable donation considerations:

SANITIZER

New hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes such as PDI, Clorox or other brand
New clinical grade disinfectants including wipes, sprays and sanitization solutions with at least 70% alcohol

MASKS

New mask/respirator masks in boxed or packaged form
New isolation/procedures surgical masks in unopened boxes or packages
New N95 masks in boxed or packaged form
Preference will be given to unexpired N95s from 3M
Cannot accept physical damaged (creased, broken, water/liquid damaged) or soiled respirators

GLOVES

Latex-free gloves in all sizes
Must be in unopened boxes

GOWNS / SHOE COVERS

New clinical gowns and New shoe covers
Isolation gowns must be fluid resistant, not necessarily fluid impermeable

FACE SHIELDS / GOGGLES

New plastic face shields
Must be fluid resistant and goggles must prevent any splashes to eyes

Receiving your donations

Donations may be dropped off at the Lundquist Tower or West Tower entrances.
Please fill out the gift-in-kind form at www.torrancememorialfoundation.org/donate to expedite the process

In-kind food donations are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Refer interested donors to www.torrancememorialfoundation.org/donate

Questions may be directed to COVID.donations@tmmc.com or (310) 784-4843.

2020 Census

While you’re staying home, take a few minutes to complete your 2020 Census. Respond today by mail, by phone at 844-330-2020 or online at 2020census.gov

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau has modified all of its data collection protocols to eliminate personal visits. The Census Bureau is suspending 2020 Census field operations for two additional weeks to April 15, 2020. The Census Bureau is taking this step to help protect the health and safety of the American public. Where feasible, census field workers will call survey participants and seek to collect the necessary information over the phone.

For information on how to identify a call from the Census Bureau, visit https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/surveyhelp/verify-a-survey.html#par_textimage_404380185

New COVID-19 Dashboards

The County of Los Angeles has unveiled a website with geographic information systems (GIS)-based dashboards mapping the countywide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Find maps tracking confirmed cases and deaths, emergency proclamations, parks and recreation closures and service updates, and school closures at covid19.lacounty.gov/dashboards

Self-Isolation and Self-Quarantine Orders

On March 25, county officials announced new Public Health Officer Orders requiring people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who are presumed to be positive to self-isolate for a period of 7 days and 3 days of being symptom-free; and requiring all close contacts of these individuals to self-quarantine for 14 days since their last exposure.

Home isolation instructions for people with COVID-19 are available at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/docs/HomeisolationenCoV.pdf
Home quarantine guidelines for close contacts to COVID-19 patients are available at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/docs/COVHomeQuarantine.pdf

Read the orders at the links below:
March 25, 2020 Self-Isolation Order (Diagnosed)
March 25, 2020 Self-Quarantine Order (Exposed)

What’s the difference between isolation and quarantine?

Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

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.

Watch the latest episode of RPVtv’s “Around the Peninsula” featuring an interview with PVP Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Eileen Hupp to find out how you can support local businesses during the coronavirus outbreak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etJcYqikC9o

How You Can Help

Los Angeles County officials encourage members of the public who want to help those in the community experiencing hardships to make monetary contributions to reputable non-profit organizations or to the funds listed below, which are supporting COVID-19 disaster efforts.

Support the California Community Foundation’s Covid-19 LA County Response Fund

The California Community Foundation launched the COVID-19 LA County Response Fund, which supports community needs identified by our partners in health, housing, education and immigration.

Support the United Way’s Pandemic Relief Fund

United Way of Greater Los Angeles’ Pandemic Relief Fund supports L.A. County’s unsheltered residents who are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus, and low-income individuals, students and families at imminent risk of homelessness and hardships due to health and economic impacts of coronavirus.

Support other nonprofits

Philanthropy California’s disaster resilience team is coordinating with state agencies and partners to respond to the impacts of COVID-19/Coronavirus. You can search for Los Angeles County non-profits through this site.

American Red Cross

Give a financial gift or lifesaving blood.

Personal Protective Equipment Needed

Want to help our nurses, doctors and health care workers? If you want to donate/know of businesses that may be able to help with personal protective equipment, such as surgical masks, N95 face masks, face shields and other supplies, email medsupply@dhs.lacounty.gov

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.

Neighborhood Watch

For 28 years, residents and Block Captains have worked together through RPV Neighborhood Watch to build safe and cohesive neighborhoods. Working cooperatively between neighbors and law enforcement has resulted in supportive neighbors who help each other when necessary. Those residents or blocks who are not yet a part of Neighborhood Watch can contact Gail Lorenzen at rpvnw@ix.netcom.com.

Senior Support

Please consider checking on your older neighbors or those with underlying health conditions. There are ways to let people know you care while keeping a safe distance (e.g., a phone call, a text, a note under their door to make sure they have everything they need). Self-isolation doesn’t need to mean loneliness. Lomita Sheriff’s Station deputies are available to provide a “welfare check” for seniors. Residents are encouraged to call the station’s non-emergency number at 310-539-1661 if they are aware of seniors who are at risk or may need attention. We are all in this together.

City Hall Closed

As a reminder, to reduce the risk of community spread of COVID-19, through at least April 19, City Hall and park buildings are closed to the public, and all recreational activities, classes and events at City facilities have been canceled. Advisory board meetings have been canceled through the end of March. 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 social distancing is the best and most effective tool to slow the spread of coronavirus.