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

COVID-19 on Track to Become the Second Leading Cause of Death in L.A. County

From January to June of last year, coronary heart disease was the top cause of death in Los Angeles County, with nearly 6,000 deaths attributed to it. According to county health officials, it appears that COVID-19, with over 3,400 deaths during the same time period, is on track to claim more lives in the county than any disease except coronary heart disease — killing more people than Alzheimer’s Disease, other kinds of heart disease, stroke and COPD.

The above graphic, prepared by the county, shows us the flu is a dangerous virus in its own right, but nowhere near as deadly as COVID-19. The yellow bar (on the left) shows flu and pneumonia-related deaths for the periods of October to May. This is what DPH considers flu season. In the fall, winter and into spring (8 months) — the flu and pneumonia killed 1,521 people.

In the first six months of 2020, COVID-19 has killed more than twice as many people as the flu — 3,402.

Unlike the flu, there is no vaccine for COVID-19 at this time. This is one of the reasons L.A. County is working hard to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19. By doing so, we're able to limit the strain on L.A. County's health care system when flu season arrives in just a few months, and to contain a virus that we now understand is much more deadly than the flu.

Process for Schools Seeking In-Person Learning Exemption

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced last week that schools in L.A. County, and other monitored counties, cannot resume in-person learning this August. The state's directive, however, has allowed local health officers to consider granting waivers to school districts and private schools that would allow for the reopening of in-classroom instruction for students in grades TK through grade 6. 

The L.A. County Department of Public Health aims to announce a well-defined waiver application process as early as this Friday so that interested school districts know how to apply.

The process will require that requests be submitted to DPH by: 1) a district superintendent or 2) a school board. Requests will also need to be accompanied by support from key stakeholders, including:

• labor partners
• parents
• and community-based partners

Once a waiver's been submitted, DPH will consult with CDPH to assess the request and review regional data trends in COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as capacity within the regional hospital system.

DPH will work with school districts to ensure that when schools are re-opened, they are able to adhere to existing directives outlined in the Health Order for the Reopening of Schools on distancing, infection control and managing outbreaks. Stay tuned for updates.

Scam Alert: Contact Tracing Scams

Scammers are posing as contact tracers to get your personal identifying information, such as social security numbers or bank account numbers. If someone poses as a contact tracer and asks for this personal info, hang up immediately!

THE SCAM:

COVID-19 cases are growing in L.A. County. You might get a phone call, text message or email from a “contact tracer” looking for information about a supposed COVID-19 case.
They say they are working to help fight the spread of COVID-19 and need important information including your social security number, money, financial information, or immigration status.

THE TRUTH:

Scammers are impersonating legitimate COVID-19 contact tracers. Their purpose is to profit from the current public health emergency and they try to trick you into giving private personal or financial information.
If you are contacted by someone claiming to be a contact tracer, remember the following:

• Be cautious of suspicious emails, phone calls, and text messages.
• Never provide an individual claiming to be a contact tracer any personal information about your finances, social security number, or detailed health information.
• Contact your local health department to verify that the call or messages are valid.
• Think before you click on any links.
• Be aware of suspicious attachments.

L.A. County is doing legitimate contact tracing. But its trained public health specialists will never ask for a social security number, payment or documented status.

If you have a positive lab result for COVID-19, expect a public health specialist from the Department of Public Health to contact you by phone to interview about possible exposures and to identify others who may have also been exposed to the infection. They will leave a call-back number if necessary. If they cannot reach you by phone, they will send a letter.

Please answer Public Health’s calls and call them back if they leave a message. The information is protected and cannot be shared with others except in emergency situations.

L.A. County Issues Reopening Protocols for Hair Salons, Barbershops and Personal Care Establishments Allowed to Offer Certain Services Outdoors

This week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued reopening protocols for hair salons, barbershops and personal care establishments in the county. The following are highlights from the protocols, which have been updated to reflect new state guidance:

Hair Salons and Barbershops 

• Businesses must establish an outdoor reception area where customers can check in while still following physical distancing guidelines.
• Services that cannot be performed safely outdoors (or that would require a customer to have to enter the establishment) are not permitted.
  • For additional guidance on permissible outdoor services, see guidance from the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
  • For the latest from the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, see a list of guidelines.
• Outdoor shaded areas can be configured to block wind, but cannot be enclosed or partially enclosed on more than one side.
• Businesses must comply with the Cal/OSHA standard for heat illness prevention for outdoor workers, including an effective heat illness prevention plan with written procedures on:
  • Access to water, shade, and cool down breaks; emergency procedures for heat illness cases; monitoring of employees who are acclimatizing during a heat wave; and training on heat illness prevention and symptoms
  • For resources (including Cal/OSHA FAQs, a webinar and a sample written plan), visit the Cal/OSHA heat illness prevention page.

Personal Care Establishments

• All establishments operating outdoors should have Cal/OSHA standard heat illness prevention plans and written procedures, as moving work outdoors creates additional hazards including the possibility of heat illness. 
• Businesses offering electrology, tattooing, microblading and permanent makeup, and piercing services may not operate outside because they are invasive procedures that require a controlled hygienic environment to be performed safely.
• Businesses must establish an outdoor reception area where customers can check in while still following physical distancing guidelines.
• Businesses which offer pedicures outdoors shall be limited to portable tubs/bowls and must be cleaned and disinfected with an EPA-registered liquid disinfectant that is labeled as a bactericide, fungicide and virucide (refer to manufacturer’s instruction on mixture). Disinfection should occur inside the nail salon and not in the temporary outdoor setting.

Visit DPH online at publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus to learn more.

Questions about moving your business operations outdoors?

If your RPV business is impacted by COVID-19-related closures and you have questions about moving your operations outdoors, please contact the Community Development Department at 310-544-5228 or planning@rpvca.gov.

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 Extends Eviction Moratorium through September 30

This week, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors extended the countywide moratorium on evictions through September 30.

As a reminder, L.A. County’s eviction moratorium — which applies to Rancho Palos Verdes — prevents both residential and commercial tenants from being evicted for not paying their rent, for no-fault reasons, and other violations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board is set to consider establishing the protections in the county’s moratorium as the baseline for cities with their own moratoria on August 4.

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.

Calling Young Inventors: The $1M Next-Gen Mask Challenge

The $1 million Next-Gen Mask Challenge aims to reimagine protective face masks used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by making them more comfortable, functional, accessible, and even stylish. 

XPRIZE, a nonprofit organization that uses global competitions to crowdsource solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges, has announced the launch of their Next-Gen Mask Challenge. The contest is an eight-month challenge, which is open to young adults from around the world ages 15 to 24, will invite future innovators to shift cultural perspective around mask-wearing behavior by developing the next generation of surgical-grade consumer face masks.

In the end, a grand prize winner plus two additional teams will be selected by a panel of judges and industry experts. The three teams will split a $1 million prize purse and will be connected to rapid manufacturing opportunities in the U.S. to accelerate the production of their reimagined facial masks.

Eligibility: Anyone ages 15-24
Participate as an individual or as a group.

Register at https://xprize.org/challenge/nextgenmask

Application Window Reopens for Grants of up to $15,000 for Small Businesses

This week, applications for the second round of funding from the L.A. Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund opened for small businesses, nonprofits and micro-entrepreneurs facing unprecedented health and economic challenges due to COVID-19. Applications may be submitted for the second round of funding July 20 - July 24.

The L.A. Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund aims to distribute: 1) $5,000 grants to micro-entrepreneurs and 2) $15,000 grants to non-profits and small businesses. Grants will be distributed through an equitable lottery system, to ensure equitable access to capital across various demographics in the Los Angeles region.

Register for an upcoming webinar to learn more about eligibility and deadlines at lacovidfund.org/events.

Access a full list of local partners providing technical assistance by visiting the LA Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund website. For more information, visit lacovidfund.org. 

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, August 4 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 a limited time, the American Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Help save lives and get insight into whether you may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus.

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

Cases

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/