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

Getting Tested For COVID-19 Is Still Important

As more people get vaccinated and we move toward herd immunity, the L.A. County Department of Health Services reminds residents that it is still important to get tested. Get tested if you have symptoms, if you have been asked to by a public health official, or if you think you have been exposed.

In the video above, learn about pop-up COVID-19 testing sites open in community spaces like parks, churches and grocery stores. By knowing if you have COVID-19, you can help stop the spread by isolating yourself immediately and protect yourself and others. Find testing locations by calling 211 or visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. For other community resources visit covidhelpla.org.

Appointments are currently not needed and you are able to register on-site at L.A. County and City of L.A. testing sites. Appointments can still be made and can help reduce wait times. View FAQs for more information on COVID-19 testing in L.A. County.

Where L.A. County Stands

On April 20, the state released updated COVID-19 case rate numbers; L.A. County's adjusted case rate dropped from 3.2 new cases per 100,000 people to 2.7 new cases per 100,000. The test positivity rate dropped from 1.5% to 1.2%, and in areas with the fewest health affirming resources, L.A. County’s test positivity rate dropped from 1.9% to 1.4%.

L.A. County remains in the orange tier in the state's Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework. In order to move to the least restrictive yellow tier, the county's case rate must be less than 2 new cases per 100,000 people and test positivity must be less than 2%.

PVLD Curbside Pickup Service Ends April 29

With all library branches now open for browsing and interior hold pick up, the Palos Verdes Library District will soon end the curbside service it launched during the COVID-19-related closure. The last day for curbside service is April 29. In accordance with L.A. County guidelines, quarantine of returned items will be phased out by April 26. For more information about library services, visit pvld.org/grabandgo.

Tax Credits Available to Small Employers to Provide Paid Leave to Employees Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines

Tax credits are available to help small businesses providing employees paid leave for COVID-19 vaccinations. Eligible employers, such as businesses and tax-exempt organizations with fewer than 500 employees and certain governmental employers, can receive a tax credit for providing paid time off for each employee receiving the vaccine and for any time needed to recover from the vaccine.

Learn more and find a fact sheet at go.usa.gov/xH98S.

Majority of El Camino Classes to Continue Online in Fall 2021

While El Camino College is encouraged by the expanded access to vaccines, including the recent announcement that those 16 and over may now receive the vaccine, the college has determined that due to the scheduling challenges faced by students, the majority of courses will continue to be offered online this fall. The fall class schedule provides about 20% of classes to be on campus with the remainder being offered in remote, online and hybrid formats to provide a safe learning environment for students.

El Camino continues to follow the guidelines set by the L.A. County Department of Public Health to ensure a safe and positive transition back to campus life.

Read more at elcamino.edu.

Bill to Protect Nursing Home Residents from Evictions and Transfers During COVID Pandemic Passes Assembly Health Committee

Last week, Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) and Miguel Santiago’s (D-Los Angeles) AB 279 passed the Assembly Health Committee on an 11-2 vote. This bill would protect seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic by prohibiting licensed senior residential care facilities from terminating, transferring, or significantly altering the conditions of residential care services during the State of California’s COVID-19 state of emergency period.

Read more at a66.asmdc.org.

Vaccine Updates

L.A. County Awaits Federal Guidance on J&J Vaccine

Since the CDC and FDA announced the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s administration last week, 70% of Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses in L.A. County have been replaced with Pfizer and Moderna doses. There may be an announcement at the end of this week about the vaccine’s safety from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. L.A. County will follow the CDC and FDA directives on when it is safe to resume administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Vaccination Rates - See Where the City Is

Curious about the City's current vaccination rate and how it compares to the rest of the South Bay and L.A. County? The City of Los Angeles has added vaccination rates to its countywide COVID-19 data dashboard, which can be viewed on City Controller Ron Galperin’s website.

The dashboard is best viewed on desktop or laptop computer, and in landscape mode on your mobile device.

Be sure to zoom into the map, click anywhere within the City's borders and the vaccination rate information will display.

As of April 4, 50.2% of Rancho Palos Verdes residents age 16 and over received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Teens 16 and Older: It's YOUR Turn to Get Vaccinated

Children can transmit COVID-19 just like anyone else can. That’s why it’s so important for young people 16 and 17 to get a COVID-19 vaccine, even if you’re healthy.

Teens 16 and older can now be vaccinated at any site that administers Pfizer vaccines to help keep them and their families, schools, sports teams, and communities safe. That includes many of our county and city-run mass vaccination sites and hundreds of pharmacies, community vaccination events, and health clinics, including those affiliated with major health systems like Kaiser, UCLA Health, and federally qualified health clinics.
L.A. County asks that young people 16 and 17 years old come to their vaccination appointment with a legal guardian who can give consent, just as with other pediatric vaccines.

Visit VaccinateLACounty.com for more information and to make an appointment.

50% of Californians 16+ Have Received at Least One COVID-19 Vaccine Dose

As of April 16, half of all Californians (16+) are, at least, partially vaccinated against COVID-19, getting us one step closer to community immunity.

Visit VaccinateALL58.com for more COVID-19 facts and vaccine scheduling.

Small Business Grant Alert

CA Small Business CPVOD-19 Relief Grant Program

Final Round - California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

The sixth and final round of the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will be accepting applications from April 28 to May 4.

Get prepared now by visiting CAReliefGrant.com to learn how to apply, watch a recorded webinar, or access additional resources.

Outdoor Recreation Programs

Find activities in the Spring 2021 Recreation Guide!

Registration Open for After School Recreational Enrichment Program

Registration is open for the After School Recreational Enrichment Program offered by the San Pedro & Peninsula YMCA and the City at Hesse Park!

Register your child today at bit.ly/sppyenrichment

The after school program is for grades K-5 and will take place from 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday at Hesse Park through June 11.

This program is 100% outdoors and features activities covering science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), individual conditioning physical exercise, enrichment, and much more, all designed to maintain physical distancing and follow Los Angeles County Department of Public Health protocols. Fees are $100 per week, per child.

For more information, visit ymcala.org.
Download a program flyer at: bit.ly/3gunjxl

If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in programs, services, activities and meetings, contact the City's ADA Coordinator/Risk Manager at 310-683-3157, adarequests@rpvca.gov, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, at least 48 hours in advance to request an auxiliary aid or accommodation.

Upcoming Local Blood Drives

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 upcoming blood drives in Rancho Palos Verdes:

Friday, April 23
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Christ Lutheran Church
28850 S. Western Avenue

Monday, April 26
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ascension Lutheran Church
26231 Silver Spur Road

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)

Data

Cases

As of April 22, there are 1,230,362 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Los Angeles County (population 10.17 million). The total includes 1,495 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes (population 42,747), 455 in Palos Verdes Estates (population 13,522), 278 in Rolling Hills Estates (population 8,113), 54 in Rolling Hills (population 1,940), and 64 in the unincorporated areas of the Peninsula (population 1,921). Countywide, 23,736 people have died.

According to the L.A. County Department of Public Health, 53 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 the L.A. County Department of Public Health's Locations & Demographics page.

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.

Vaccinations

According to the L.A. County Department of Public Health, as of April 4, 50.2% of Rancho Palos Verdes residents age 16 and over received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about the 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/