COVID-19 Community Update for July 6

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

Hand Sanitizer

FDA Warns Consumers About Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers and health care professionals about hand sanitizer products containing methanol, or wood alcohol — a substance often used to create fuel and antifreeze that is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizer products and can be toxic when absorbed through the skin as well as life-threatening when ingested. The agency has seen an increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. State officials have also reported recent adverse events from adults and children ingesting hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol, including blindness, hospitalizations and death.

The agency continues to warn the public not to use specific products, which are listed on the FDA website. The FDA is communicating with manufacturers and distributors of these dangerous products about recalling them. The agency also continues to quality-test hand sanitizers, including testing products entering the country through the U.S. border, and maintains a list of FDA-tested and recalled hand sanitizers on the agency’s website, which will be continually updated as dangerous products are discovered.

In June, the FDA warned consumers about products manufactured by Eskbiochem, which contained methanol. Since then, voluntary recalls have been conducted by several of Eskbiochem’s distributors and the agency is recommending additional companies recall their hand sanitizer products.

The agency urges consumers to be cautious since some of these products may still be found at retail outlets or for purchase online.

PVPUSD

ICYMI: PVPUSD School Reopening Town Hall


In case you missed it, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District has uploaded a recording of last week’s Town Hall Meeting for School Reopening Planning on the district’s YouTube channel at: youtu.be/V296n5U-c_s

In addition to information on reopening planning, the meeting included a discussion of potential requirements for members of the school community exposed to COVID-19 who test positive and negative, and for those who get sick with other ailments in the fall.

A list of questions and comments that were submitted for the meeting is available at: https://4.files.edl.io/b84c/07/03/20/222540-dd128e5a-ea28-4cf4-820a-b03f9a703f84.pd

Paycheck Protection Program

Paycheck Protection Program Accepting New Loan Applications; Deadline Extended to August 8


Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program began accepting new loan applications in response to the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act. These loans are designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline to apply is now August 8.

Find a lender at: sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find

Learn more about the program at sba.gov/paycheckprotectio

LA Regional COVID Fund

Application Window Opens for $3 Million in Grants for Small Businesses


Today, applications for the first 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 first round of funding July 6 - July 10.

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. 

We're Open Sign

Upcoming Reopening Webinars for Salons, Barbershops and Offices


The L.A. Small Business Development Center and the L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs are hosting upcoming webinars detailing reopening protocols and resources for hair salons and barbershops, and for office-based worksites:

Hair Salons and Barbershops – Thursday, July 9 at 3 p.m.
Office-Based Worksites – Thursday, July 16 at 3 p.m.


To register, visit: bit.ly/3iuAAY

Income Tax

July 15 Tax Filing Deadline Will Not Be Postponed


Last week, the Department of the Treasury and IRS announced that the tax filing and payment deadline of July 15 will not be postponed. Individual taxpayers unable to meet the July 15 due date can request an automatic extension of time to file until October 15.
Due to COVID-19, the original filing deadline and tax payment due date for 2019 was postponed from April 15 to July 15.

The IRS reminds taxpayers filing Form 1040 series returns that they must file Form 4868 by July 15 to obtain the automatic extension to October 15. The extension provides additional time to file the tax return – it is not an extension to pay any taxes due.

The IRS urges people who owe taxes, even if they have a filing extension, to carefully review their situation and pay what they can by July 15 to avoid penalties and interest. For people facing hardships, including those affected by COVID-19, who cannot pay in full, the IRS has several options available to help. To avoid interest and penalties, the IRS encourages them to pay what they can and consider a variety of payment options available for the remaining balance.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2BMyfI

Takeout Tuesday

Tomorrow is Takeout Tuesday!


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.

Avoid the 3 C's

Avoid the 3 Cs


It’s on all of us to slow the spread of COVID-19. Wear a cloth face covering. Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet. Wash your hands. Avoid the three Cs: confined space, crowds and close contact.

L.A. County Department of Public Health

Cases


As of July 6, there are 116,570 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Los Angeles County (population 10.17 million), 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 154 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes (population 41,731), 56 in Palos Verdes Estates (population 13,190), 25 in Rolling Hills Estates (population 8,066) and three in Rolling Hills (population 1,874). Countywide, 3,534 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.

Resources
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/

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30940 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

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