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 Vaccine Appointments Now Available for Residents 65+, Supply Extremely Limited

On Tuesday, the County of Los Angeles announced that residents 65 years and older are now eligible for a free COVID-19 vaccination.

Visit VaccinateLACounty.com to schedule an appointment or call (833) 540-0473 for assistance between 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Only a very limited number of vaccination appointments are currently available. Please be patient if there are no available appointments when you first visit the county's website. Appointments are continually being added and more vaccination sites are scheduled to open in the coming weeks.

The vaccine supply is still extremely limited, and the L.A. County Department of Public Health urges patience as its works urgently with federal and state partners to expand capacity and supply in the weeks ahead.

The Department of Public Health continues ramping up capacity to complete vaccinations for eligible priority groups identified by the CDC with more specific guidance provided by the state. This includes the launch of five new large-scale vaccination sites that began operation on Tuesday and adding several more pharmacies and health care clinics.

The five sites, which were chosen for their regional accessibility and their ability to handle large capacities of people, are:

• Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768
• The Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90305
• California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, CA 91330
• L.A. County Office of Education, 12830 Columbia Way, Downey, CA 90242
• Six Flags Magic Mountain, 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355

• Check the county's website early in the morning as it seems like appointments are released sometime during the night, or check periodically throughout the day.
• Appointments are continually being added, so be vigilant, especially if you are hoping to get vaccinated at a specific location.
• You do not need to go back to the same location to receive your second dose. Just make sure you are receiving the same type of vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna).
• Some locations have phone numbers to call if you have specific questions about disability parking or any other needs. You should make the appointment and confirm it, then call to see if you can get your questions answered.

• The closest county megapod is The Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90305.
• Crenshaw Clinic: Parking is not available on W 79th (it is blocked off). Drive up Normandie and park on the street (Vermont has testing site traffic, this location is doing testing and vaccinations).

Dodger Stadium: This is a drive through location, where you remain in your vehicle. There are usually lots of appointments available here.

COVID-19 Vaccine Myths vs Facts

The L.A. County Department of Public Health reminds the public that while you may have heard different things about the COVID-19 vaccine on social media or through friends and family, it is important to know the facts.

Myth #3: The vaccines can make you sick with COVID 19

The Facts: The current vaccines don’t include the virus in any form – no live virus, no weakened virus, no dead virus. You just cannot get the disease from the vaccine.

• Some other vaccines use the virus they are fighting in some form to charge up an immune response. The current COVID-19 vaccines do not work that way so there is no way that they could give you COVID-19.
• It is possible to catch the disease in the first few days after your vaccination before the vaccine has a chance to work, but that would not mean you got sick from the vaccine. For most people, the vaccine needs 7 days before it starts to work. And both these vaccines require a second dose before a person is fully protected from getting sick from the virus.

It is easy to be confused about this, because you might feel some side effects for a while after getting the vaccine. In fact, about half of the volunteers who tested these vaccines experienced some side effects: most of these effects were mild and did not require any treatment or change in daily activity and lasted for 1-2 days. What they were feeling was not COVID-19, however, not even a mild case of COVID-19. They were feeling the symptoms of an immune response, which means that the vaccine was at work developing antibodies to protect them from COVID-19.

For more myths and facts, and more vaccine information, go to VaccinateLACounty.com.

COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects FAQs

What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine? Experiencing side effects is a normal sign that your body is building protection against the virus. To learn more, visit the Beach Cities Health District’s dedicated COVID-19 vaccine webpage at bchd.org/covidvaccine.

Safe in the South Bay: State of COVID-19 Vaccine

The Beach Cities Health District’s  Safe in the South Bay Series is bringing health experts, cities, chambers, schools and community members together around this fast-moving pandemic. The live-streamed series #4 on February 4 at 5 p.m. will focus on COVID-19 vaccinations and the psychology and resilience of living during a pandemic. Join an esteemed panel of experts who will provide the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccines and the ways residents, organizations, businesses, schools and the Beach Cities community can support COVID-19 recovery. Register at bchd.org/coronavirus.

RPV to Develop Local Meals on Wheels Program, Help Fund Peninsula Seniors Programming

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes will use Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant funding to launch a Meals on Wheels program in the City, and additionally help support virtual programming for isolated RPV seniors put on by the nonprofit Peninsula Seniors.

The City was allocated $86,499 in Community Development Block Grants-COVID-19 (CDBG-CV) grant funding last year to use specifically for programs for disabled, income-eligible, or senior residents affected by COVID-19. City staff researched the most feasible potential programs for RPV, which were brought to the City Council for consideration in September 2020 and again this week.

On Tuesday, the City Council authorized the use of $70,000 in CDBG-CV funding to start a Meals on Wheels program for RPV seniors, which will deliver a free, nutritious daily meal to eligible RPV seniors and residents with disabilities. The program will be developed in the coming months and details are to be announced. 

The City Council also authorized the use of $10,000 in CDBG-CV funding to offset administrative and programming costs for Peninsula Seniors, which provides virtual programming that is key in keeping older adults connected and social while they are staying safer at home.

For a calendar of Peninsula Seniors virtual events, visit pvseniors.org/events.

The City’s remaining CDBG-CV funds will go toward grant administration, including reporting and compliance monitoring.

Palos Verdes Peninsula Village Zoom Info Session February 12

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Village builds community with older adults while they remain in their homes as they age. PVP Village has been serving its members throughout the COVID-19 crisis with a calendar full of virtual social opportunities, continuing transportation to essential appointments, computer help including Zoom and FaceTime, grocery shopping, handyman help and referrals.

For information about this dynamic and caring community of friendship and support, contact Executive Director Marianne Propst to participate in a Zoom information session on Friday, February 12 at 1 p.m. You also may call for an informal chat or to arrange a socially distant visit.  

Call 310-991-3324 or visit www.peninsulavillage.net for more details.

First Case of U.K. Coronavirus Variant Confirmed in L.A. County

Over the weekend, the L.A. County Department of Public Health (Public Health) confirmed the first case of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in the United Kingdom, in an individual who recently spent time in L.A. County. The individual is a male who traveled to Oregon, where he is currently isolating. The sample was identified as suspicious by a clinical laboratory, sequenced by University of Washington Virology, and confirmed by L.A. County.

Although this is the first confirmed case of the U.K. variant in L.A. County, Public Health believes that it is already spreading in the community. Public Health is continuing to test samples. Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants emerge and persist. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic.

In the U.K., the variant B.1.1.7 emerged with an unusually large number of mutations. The variant spreads more easily and quickly than other variants. Currently, there is no evidence that it causes more severe illness or increased risk of death. This variant was first detected in September 2020 and is now highly prevalent in London and Southeast England. It has since been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the United States and Canada. The Centers for Disease Control conducts routine analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence data to support public health response. The Public Health lab is also regularly analyzing specimens for variants, including the U.K. variant, and, to date, has not identified other cases linked to this specific variant.

Presence of the U.K. variant in L.A. County means virus transmission can happen more easily and residents must more diligently follow the safety measures put in place to prevent additional cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. This includes wearing a face covering properly over your nose and mouth, physically distancing, and not gathering with people from outside your household. With community transmission at an all-time high, staying home as much as possible is the best protection. The same strategies that we’ve been using to help slow COVID-19 will only be effective in slowing spread of the U.K. variant strain of COVID-19 if they are used by everyone all of the time.

Individuals infected with the U.K. variant will test positive for COVID-19 with current SARS-CoV-2 tests. However, to distinguish the variant strain from the traditional strain, laboratories can look for certain gene patterns and report to the local public health department for confirmation.

COVID-19 Variant First Found in Other Countries and States Now Seen More Frequently in California

The California Department of Public Health, in coordination with Santa Clara County and the University of California San Francisco, announced this week that an L452R variant of COVID-19 is increasingly being identified by viral genomic sequencing in multiple counties across the state. The L452R variant has previously been detected in other countries and states, including California, and is now increasingly being found in multiple counties throughout California. The state is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local public health departments and laboratory sequencing partners to learn more about the variant, including how it spreads.

The 452R variant was first identified last year in other countries and states, including California. This variant is different than the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom. As the number of specimens tested to monitor for variant strains has increased at California labs, including UCSF, the 452R variant has been identified more frequently since November. The 452R variant been identified in several large outbreaks in Santa Clara County.

Read more on the CDPH website.

2021 Tax Filing Season Begins February 12; IRS Outlines Steps to Speed Refunds During Pandemic

The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation's tax season will start on Friday, February 12, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax year returns.

The February 12 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to do additional programming and testing of IRS systems following the December 27 tax law changes that provided a second round of Economic Impact Payments and other benefits.

This programming work is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. If filing season were opened without the correct programming in place, then there could be a delay in issuing refunds to taxpayers. These changes ensure that eligible people will receive any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return.

To speed refunds during the pandemic, the IRS urges taxpayers to file electronically with direct deposit as soon as they have the information they need. People can begin filing their tax returns immediately with tax software companies, including IRS Free File partners. These groups are starting to accept tax returns now, and the returns will be transmitted to the IRS starting February 12.

Read more at: go.usa.gov/xAVaG

SBA Reopens Paycheck Protection Program to All Lenders

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program has reopened to all participating lenders.

PPP loans help businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis.

First Draw PPP loans are for those borrowers who have not received a PPP loan before August 8, 2020. The first two PPP rounds open between March and August 2020 were a historic success helping 5.2 million small businesses keep 51 million American workers employed.  

Second Draw PPP loans are for eligible small businesses with 300 employees or less and that previously received a First Draw PPP loan. These borrowers will have to use or had used the full amount of their First Draw loan only for authorized uses and demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. The maximum amount of a Second Draw PPP loan is $2 million. 

The Paycheck Protection Program remains open for First and Second Draw PPP loans until March 31, 2021, as set forth in the Economic Aid Act, or until Congressionally-appropriated funding is exhausted.

For more information, visit the Paycheck Protection Program website.

L.A. County Animal Care and Control Waives Cat Adoption Fees in January

The L.A. County Department of Animal Care and Control is waiving cat adoption fees for the month of January. The department is hoping to get more animals out of its care centers and into homes. This waiver does not include license and trust deposit fees. For more information, visit animalcare.lacounty.gov.

PVLD Community Survey

The Palos Verdes Library District is seeking the community's input as it continues to plan for the return of interior library services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your input will help in the planning process. Take a moment to fill out the survey at pvld.org/survey.

It’s Takeout Thursday!

With the recent outdoor dining prohibition in Los Angeles County, our local restaurants need our support now more than ever! All residents are encouraged to participate in The Great Peninsula Takeout, a Peninsula-wide effort to support local restaurants. Join our community in this "Takeout Tuesdays and Takeout Thursdays" initiative by posting on social media and inviting friends and neighbors to order takeout!

Check the Open for Business page on the City website for a list of local restaurants offering takeout, delivery and curbside pickup.

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, February 9, 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

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/