Dear Residents,

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes continues to monitor the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Los Angeles County and would like to share the following updates with the community:

The Latest

Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank and former Mayor Susan Brooks have tested positive for COVID-19.

“I am getting the rest and care I need and taking all necessary precautions as directed by my physician and public health officials,” Mayor Cruikshank said. “I hope my diagnosis underscores the need for all residents to take this crisis seriously and follow all directives from public health officials. COVID-19 is in all of our communities and we must all do our part to slow its spread.”

Read a press release at: bit.ly/3doNG7l
 

Parks and Nature Preserve Closed

Out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with guidance from state and local health officials to slow the spread of COVID-19, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has closed the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, all City parks, beaches, community centers, amenities and trails until further notice.

All park buildings, playgrounds, parking lots, restrooms, game courts, and fields are closed. All park programming has been canceled until further notice. This includes all recreational activities, indoor and outdoor sports leagues, instructional courses, and group sessions/private events.

The closures are in accordance with a local emergency proclamation adopted by the City Council last week and come after City Staff and Park Rangers observed a high volume of visitors to City parks and the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve despite the “Safer at Home” Public Health Officer Order calling for social distancing.

For a full list of closures, read a press release at: bit.ly/2UexWwo

Cases

As of March 23, there are 536 known cases of novel coronavirus across Los Angeles County, including the South Bay, so the public should not think one location is safer than another and everyone should be aware and practice social distancing. Seven people have died.

For a list of cases broken down by city and age group, visit: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phcommon/public/media/mediapubdetail.cfm?unit=media&ou=ph&prog=media&cur=cur&prid=2279&row=25&start=1
 
It’s also important to note that the total number of confirmed cases that the Department of Public Health shares every day reflects a moment in time and may not include cases confirmed by commercial labs that have not yet been shared with the Department of Public Health. A commercial lab may share a positive result with a physician before the health department.

Enhanced “Safer at Home” Order

 
Over the weekend, county officials announced revisions to the “Safer at Home” Public Health Officer Order to comply with Executive Order N-33-20 issued by Governor Gavin Newsom. Under the enhanced order:
 
The following are OPEN:
Groceries, convenience and warehouse store, food banks, farmers markets
Pharmacies to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities
Restaurants for take-out, delivery or drive-thru
Gas stations
Laundromat/laundry services
 
The following are CLOSED:
Golf courses
Grooming services (ex: nail and hair salons)
Gyms and fitness studios
Indoor malls and shopping centers (essential businesses may remain open)
Indoor and outdoor playgrounds
Movie theaters and entertainment venues
Bars, breweries, nightclubs
Convention Centers
 
Exemptions
Businesses that provide "critical infrastructure" do not have to close (ex: health care, public health, media, food and agriculture, emergency services, etc). Learn how "critical infrastructure" is defined at: https://www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors
 
Family/Friend Care
Residents can leave home to care for those in need, with precautions:

• Maintain 6 feet of social distancing
• Wash hands before and after all interactions
• Use hand sanitizer if available
  
• Cough or sneeze into elbow or tissue; wash hands after
• Those with early signs of illness should stay away from older people

 
Gatherings *Updated*
All public and private gatherings are prohibited. This means, no playdates, group gatherings, sleepovers, dinner parties, etc.
 
Hospital/Health Care
Non-essential care (ex: teeth cleaning, elective procedures) must be postponed. Visits to hospitals and nursing homes are banned; limited exceptions include:

• When patient is at the end-of-life
• Accompanying a minor or developmentally disabled person
• Accompanying someone who needs assistance
  

Insurance
Copays/coinsurance and deductibles are waived for COVID-related testing/screening. Applies to all those with full-service Medi-Cal or commercial insurance in California.
 
Pets
Dogs can be taken for walks; sick pets can be taken to veterinarian offices.
 
Recreation/Exercise
Outside walks, runs, bike rides and hikes are allowed with social distancing measures. As a reminder, the City has closed all parks and the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
 

Hospital Ship USNS Mercy Deployed to Port of Los Angeles

The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) is en route to the Port of Los Angeles in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts.

Mercy departed Naval Base San Diego today with over 800 Navy medical personnel and support staff with the afloat MTF, and over 70 civil service mariners. The ship will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, and will provide a full spectrum of medical care to include general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults. This will allow local health professionals to focus on treating COVID-19 patients and for shore-based hospitals to use their intensive care units and ventilators for those patients.

For more information, read a press release at: https://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/130574

Closure Information

For a list of school, library, transit and other local closures, visit the Closure Information page on the City’s coronavirus webpage.

Open for Business

Need a list of Peninsula restaurants that are serving takeout and delivery? Or updated grocery store hours? Check out the Open for Business tab on the City’s coronavirus webpage. If you would like to add your business to this page or provide updated information, please email slee@rpvca.gov.

Watch the latest episode of RPVtv’s “Around the Peninsula” featuring an interview with PVP Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Eileen Hupp to find out how you can support local businesses during the coronavirus outbreak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etJcYqikC9o  

How You Can Help

PVPUSD School Board Member Linda Reid is coordinating a volunteer effort to match up senior citizens needing errand/grocery/meal help in PV with volunteers. PVPUSD students, parents, and alums unexpectedly home from college will assist! Any older residents may email Member Reid at reidl@pvpusd.net to be matched up with a local volunteer during this difficult isolating time. 
 
Neighborhood Watch block captains are available to assist any and all individuals who would like some form of assistance at this time. Those who are not yet a part of Neighborhood Watch can contact Gail Lorenzen at rpvnw@ix.netcom.com
 
Blood Donations Needed
 
The American Red Cross faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during the coronavirus outbreak. There is no clinical evidence that COVID-19 is transmissible through blood. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood, platelets or AB Elite plasma.
 
The Red Cross also urges organizations to maintain scheduled blood drives. Donating is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood or platelets. The Red Cross has implemented additional precautions to ensure the safety of its donors and staff.
 
This blood shortage could impact patients who need surgery, victims of car accidents and other emergencies, or patients fighting cancer. Learn how to donate at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

Senior Support

Please consider checking on your older neighbors or those with underlying health conditions. There are ways to let people know you care while keeping a safe distance (e.g., a phone call, a text, a note under their door to make sure they have everything they need). Self-isolation doesn’t need to mean loneliness. Lomita Sheriff’s Station deputies are available to provide a “welfare check” for seniors. Residents are encouraged to call the station’s non-emergency number at 310-539-1661 if they are aware of seniors who are at risk or may need attention. We are all in this together.

City Hall Closed

As a reminder, to reduce the risk of community spread of COVID-19, through at least April 19, City Hall and park buildings are closed to the public. Advisory board meetings have been canceled through the end of March. The City will primarily be providing essential city services that are necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our community and City employees. To facilitate these measures, all non-essential staff will be working remotely. Inquiries will be reviewed daily and will be responded to on a case-by-case basis. Please note that our response to your inquiry could be delayed.

Community Development Department applications and permit requests may be submitted to planning@rpvca.gov. 

Non-emergency service requests may be submitted at http://www.rpvca.gov/FormCenter/NonEmergency-Customer-Service-Requests-3/NonEmergency-Customer-Service-Requests-43. 

Public Works service requests may be submitted at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/6d13530e7ca84edbb5c4e022bdc54da8. 
 
Please visit the appropriate department page on the City website for a list of phone numbers and email addresses to accommodate your needs:
 
City Manager
City Clerk
Community Development
Finance
Human Resources
Public Works
Recreation, Parks & Open Space
RPVtv
 
Overall Staff Directory
Resources
Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about 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
 
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/ 

The City Council is committed to keeping you informed on this ever-changing situation, and thanks you for your cooperation and support. The City reminds all residents that closures and cancellations announced by the City and other agencies and institutions are being implemented because public health officials advise that social distancing is the best and most effective tool to slow the spread of coronavirus.