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
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Quarantine Fatigue is Real, But We Can’t Give Up "Quarantigue" or quarantine fatigue, occurs when people show lower motivation to comply with safety guidelines and practices. If you've become less diligent lately about washing your hands, staying home, physical distancing or wearing a mask, you're not alone. But know that these measures are still as important today as they were at the beginning of the Safer at Home Order.
Quarantigue Remedies:
- Change your mindset. Covering our faces, washing our hands and staying 6 feet apart from others is a rewarding experience because it helps us get back to our lives and loved ones sooner.
- Know the facts. Because we've been staying home and apart, the risks of COVID-19 may have started to feel farther away. Reminder: there is still no vaccination or dedicated treatment for COVID-19. Protecting each other is just as important as it was in March. Need statistics to see how COVID-19 is impacting our communities? Visit the L.A. County COVID-19 Dashboard.
- De-Stress. Anxiety and stress can often reach a tipping point. Instead of trying to regain control any way we can, we simply shut down and can be left feeling hopeless. Try meditation, exercise or calling a friend or family member to chat. As a reminder, L.A. County residents can sign up for a free Headspace Plus subscription until December 31, 2020. Headspace’s vast library of content includes guided meditations, workout videos and sleep-promoting sounds, all of which can be readily accessed from your computer, tablet or smartphone. To sign up, visit headspace.com/lacounty
- Reach Out. The L.A. County Department of Mental Health has many resources available if you are feeling overwhelmed. 24-Hour helpline: 800-854-7771, Text "LA" to 741741 or visit dmh.lacounty.gov
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L.A. County Strengthens Consumer Protections Against Price Gouging Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an urgency ordinance to strengthen protections for consumers and small businesses and to crack down on price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies, in response to a motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Effective immediately, the ordinance authorizes the filing of civil actions against price gougers at the discretion of county counsel, and imposes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. This comes just months after the board granted subpoena powers to the County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, which has received almost 2,000 reports of price gouging and over 700 other complaints from a wide variety of consumers since a state of emergency was declared on March 4.
Anyone who believes they have been a victim of price gouging, or who has information regarding potential price gouging, should immediately file a complaint through the County’s Stop Price Gouging app at stoppricegouging.dcba.lacounty.gov or by calling (800) 593-8222.
Read the ordinance at: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/146813.pd
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L.A. County to Consider Fines for Businesses Violating Reopening Protocols Also today, the Board of Supervisors voted to consider establishing fines for businesses that fail to follow reopening protocols. The move comes as health inspectors have consistently found a high percentage of businesses out of compliance with public health requirements, and as people are going out at much higher rates.
According to the Department of Public Health, on the weekend of June 27-28, inspectors found that 49% of bars and 33% of restaurants were not adhering to physical distancing protocols indoors, and that 54% of bars and 44% of restaurants were not enforcing the requirement that workers wear face masks and face shields.
The Department of Public Health will develop a plan to set fine amounts and establish protocols to allow inspectors to fine businesses for a first violation and shut them down on a second visit if compliance is not achieved. The proposal will return to the board for consideration in coming weeks.
Read the full motion at: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/146954.pdf
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Security Tips for Job Seekers Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, unemployment numbers have climbed, resulting in a rise of online job seekers who are vulnerable to scams. The National Cyber Security Alliance has partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to arm job seekers with a guide to protect themselves. Download a tip sheet at: https://staysafeonline.org/resource/job-search-security
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S.A.F.E. Collection Centers to Reopen July 11 On July 11, all S.A.F.E. Collection Centers — including the San Pedro location on North Gaffey Street — will reopen to L.A. County residents for household hazardous waste and electronic waste collection. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, visitors must adhere to the following:
- Remain in your vehicle at all times.
- Face coverings are mandatory at all times.
- Materials must be in your unlocked trunk or tailgate.
For more information about what is and is not accepted, and for a list of locations, visit lacitysan.org/safecenter
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Time for a COVID-19 Test? If you're feeling under the weather and think you may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, call your primary care provider. COVID-19 symptoms include: fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, congestion or runny nose, or new loss of taste or smell.
Wherever possible, you should receive testing in consultation with your health care provider to ensure continuity of care and optimal follow-up. If you do not have insurance and need help connecting to a health care provider, dial 2-1-1.
To check availability or make an appointment, visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.
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Paycheck Protection Program Accepting New Loan Applications; Deadline Extended to August 8 This week, 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
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Application Window Opens for $3 Million in Grants for Small Businesses This week, 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.
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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
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Census Response Rate Challenge Have you completed your 2020 Census? Responses to the census shape decisions about how billions of dollars in federal funds flow into communities each year for the next 10 years for critical services, including health care, emergency response, schools and education programs, and roads and bridges. The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of census data and census participation.
As of July 6, Rancho Palos Verdes has a 75.3% self-response rate, 12.2% higher than the state’s average self-response rate and 13.4% higher than the national average. RPV has the second highest response rate of the Peninsula cities behind Palos Verdes Estates.
Help us become the first city in the state to reach a 100% self-response rate! See the response rate for yourself at tabsoft.co/3ajQCP
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CasesAs of July 7, there are 120,539 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 156 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes (population 41,731), 57 in Palos Verdes Estates (population 13,190), 26 in Rolling Hills Estates (population 8,066) and three in Rolling Hills (population 1,874). Countywide, 3,579 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.
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