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: |
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CDC Updates Outdoor Mask Guidance for Those Fully Vaccinated Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance that allows fully vaccinated individuals to not wear masks for limited outdoor activities, such as running and walking alone or with people you live with, attending small outdoor gatherings, or when dining outside with friends from multiple households. The L.A. County Department of Public Health is reviewing these recommendations and will be updating the Health Officer Order.
View a CDC infographic (PDF) to learn more. |
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L.A. County Moves Closer to Least Restrictive Yellow Tier
On April 27, the state released updated blueprint tier numbers; L.A. County's adjusted case rate dropped from 2.7 new cases per 100,000 people to 1.9 new cases per 100,000. The overall test positivity rate dropped from 1.2% to 0.9%, and in areas with the fewest health affirming resources, L.A. County’s test positivity rate dropped from 1.4% to 1.0%. L.A. County has begun to meet the qualifications for the least restrictive yellow tier in the state's Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework. If the county maintains current levels or declines in the case rate and test positivity rate for an additional week, it is possible in early May for the county to move to the yellow tier. The Department of Public Health will be working with the Board of Supervisors and sector partners to prepare for the county's possible move to the yellow tier as early as May 5. In the yellow tier, capacity limits at various businesses and events can increase, always adhering to safety modifications that minimize transmission of COVID-19. Bars would be allowed to resume indoor service at 25% capacity.
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Fully Vaccinated Adults 65 and Older Are 94% Less Likely to Be Hospitalized with COVID-19Both mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) authorized and recommended in the United States protect against COVID-19-related hospitalization among adults 65 years and older, according to a new CDC assessment that finds fully vaccinated adults 65 years and older were 94% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than people of the same age who were not vaccinated. People 65 and older who were partially vaccinated were 64% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than people who were not vaccinated. People were considered “partially vaccinated” two weeks after their first dose of mRNA vaccine and “fully vaccinated” two weeks after their second dose.
These are the first real-world findings in the United States confirming clinical trial data showing mRNA vaccines prevent severe COVID-19 illness.
Read more at cdc.gov |
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Real ID Enforcement Date Extended to May 2023The DMV continues to offer REAL IDs to Californians as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security extends the enforcement date from October 1, 2021 to May 3, 2023.
As the COVID-19 emergency continues, office space and appointments are limited to accommodate physical distancing guidelines. The DMV encourages customers to plan ahead and be patient. By filling out the REAL ID application at REALID.dmv.ca.gov and uploading their documents, Californians can bring their confirmation code and documents with them to a DMV office at their convenience, even the same day, for express service – no appointment necessary. Once at a service window, it now takes less than 10 minutes to complete the REAL ID transaction.
Beginning May 3, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require a valid passport or other federally approved document, like a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, to board flights within the United States and access secure federal facilities and military bases.
The DMV encourages Californians to complete the online application for a REAL ID before they come to the office and to be prepared with the appropriate documents to speed the process for everyone.
Learn more at REALID.dmv.ca.gov. |
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RPVtv’s “Around the Peninsula” – Return to CampusHosts Maria Serrao and Liz Brown Swanson visit Peninsula High School and Palos Verdes High School as they welcome students back on campus for in-person learning on RPVtv’s “Around the Peninsula.” The episode will air daily on Cox 33/Frontier FiOS 38 and can be viewed on RPVtv's YouTube channel at: youtu.be/u4BNhSc3IAU |
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Bill Requiring Pandemic Bonuses for Healthcare Workers Passes Assembly Committee on Labor and EmploymentLast week, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance)'s AB 650, the Health Care Worker Recognition and Retention Act, passed the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment on a 4-2 vote. The bill requires health care employers with more than 100 employees to pay all non-executive employees a recognition and retention bonus each quarter in 2022 for their work during the pandemic. AB 650 would cover workers at hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, medical groups or other private sector health care providers who have been disproportionately impacted and have put themselves at risk to care for Californians every day during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more at a66.asmdc.org.
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L.A. County Resumes Use of Johnson & Johnson VaccineAfter a thorough safety review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they determined that the pause in the use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine can be lifted and that use of the vaccine should resume. Vaccine providers in L.A. County with doses of the Janssen vaccine can now resume administration of the vaccine, provided they distribute the updated Janssen fact sheets to any recipients of the vaccine.
The decision comes after CDC’s independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed data related to the recent reports of a rare and severe type of blood clot that occurred in individuals after receiving the vaccine. Based on their review of all available data, both the CDC and the FDA determined that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19. The L.A. County Department of Public Health is grateful to the scientists and clinicians conducting this thorough review and are confident moving forward in distributing and administering the vaccine.
The three vaccines that are currently available through the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) remain the most powerful tools we have in reducing transmission, preventing serious illness and death, and eventually ending the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of almost 24,000 people in L.A. County.
For information on COVID-19 vaccinations in L.A. County, visit vaccinatelacounty.com. |
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COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs: Should my teen stay home from school after the COVID-19 vaccine?Should your teen stay home from school after the COVID-19 vaccine? If they have a fever, the teen should stay home. Beyond that, so long as they are feeling well, there is no need to limit activities. Source: Children’s Hospital Orange County.
For more FAQs, visit the Beach Cities Health District’s dedicated COVID-19 vaccine webpage at bchd.org/covidvaccine. |
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ICYMI: Teens & Vaccines - What Parents & Caregivers Need to KnowIn case you missed it, you can watch the Beach Cities Health District’s recent Teens & Vaccines - What Parents & Caregivers Need to Know virtual session at: youtu.be/qlTCCTLsU4k
Physicians from the Beach Cities Health District, the L.A. County Department of Public Health and UCLA Health answered questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and teens now that eligibility has expanded to ages 16+. |
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ICYMI: L.A. County COVID-19 Vaccine Town HallIn case you missed it, you can watch the L.A. County Department of Public Health’s recent COVID-19 vaccine town hall on YouTube at: youtu.be/DIrsPlCzbLo
Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis, Acute Communicable Disease Control Program Director Dr. Sharon Balter and Division of Medical Affairs Director Dr. Seira Kurian discussed the latest vaccine updates and answered questions from viewers. |
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Final Round - California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant ProgramThe 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. |
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Register for the SBA Retaurant Revitalization Fund Starting April 30The U.S. Small Business Administration will begin registrations on April 30 at 9 a.m. EDT and open applications May 3 at noon EDT for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.
Established under the American Rescue Plan, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides a total of $28.6 billion in direct relief funds to restaurants and other hard-hit food establishments that have experienced economic distress and significant operational losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Funds must be used for allowable expenses by March 11, 2023.
Learn more at sba.gov/restaurants. |
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Lost your job? Your former employer must provide free COBRA insurance.As part of the recently passed American Rescue Plan, L.A. County residents who lost their job over the last 18 months will be eligible to remain on their former employer’s insurance plan (through COBRA) at no cost until September 30.
All family members who were previously covered in your insurance plan will also be covered by this benefit. The expanded COBRA coverage also applies if you were shifted from full time to part time, if your status was changed by reduced business hours, or if you took a temporary leave of absence.
Learn more at dol.gov/COBRA-subsidy. |
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Outdoor Recreation Programs |
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Painting Rocks!Throughout the month of May, paint a rock or rocks from your backyard and place them in the Robert E. Ryan Park Rock Garden at 30359 Hawthorne Boulevard.
Paintings of local points of interest, views, animals, etc. are encouraged but not required.
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes reserves the right to remove any rocks
it deems inappropriate for this family friendly activity. Rock size not to exceed 6"x 6".
For more info, call 310-544-5260 or email events@rpvca.gov. |
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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. 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. |
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Upcoming Local Blood Drives
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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:
Monday, May 10
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ascension Lutheran Church
26231 Silver Spur Road
Tuesday, May 18
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pacific Unitarian Universalist Church
5621 Montemalaga Drive
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) |
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CasesAs of April 29, there are 1,232,727 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Los Angeles County (population 10.17 million). The total includes 1,496 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes (population 42,747), 462 in Palos Verdes Estates (population 13,522), 282 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, 23,872 people have died. According to the L.A. County Department of Public Health, 56 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 18, 59.5% of Rancho Palos Verdes residents age 16 and over received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. |
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