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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City Hall Closed on Veterans DayRancho Palos Verdes City Hall will be closed to the public on Veterans Day, November 11, but staffed City parks will be open for their regular posted hours. There will be no change in regularly-scheduled trash collection or street sweeping, and no delay in the distribution of next week’s COVID-19 Community Update.
It is unlawful to carry on construction, grading or landscaping activities, or to operate heavy equipment in the City on legal holidays, unless a Special Construction Permit is approved by the Director of Community Development. Special Construction Permits must be requested at least 48 hours before any such work is to begin. The permit application is available by visiting the following link: http://www.rpvca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5712 |
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CDC Updates Definition of “Close Contact”The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its definition of what counts as a COVID-19 “close contact.”
A “close contact” is now defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes (rather than a solid 15 minutes) or more over a 24-hour period starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health additionally defines a close contact as an individual who had unprotected contact with the infected person’s body fluids and/or secretions, for example, being coughed or sneezed on, sharing utensils or saliva, or providing care without wearing appropriate protective equipment. |
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Reminder: Gatherings Still Pose a High Risk of COVID-19
The L.A. County Department of Public Health reminds the public that gatherings still pose a high risk of COVID-19, especially when people are not keeping 6 feet of distance and wearing masks.
If you must gather, do so outdoors, with up to two other households, wearing masks and keeping at least 6 feet of physical distance. Serve food in single-serve disposable containers, and limit the gathering to two hours or less.
Any indoor gatherings with non-household members are unsafe and not permitted.
For more information, read Public Health’s Guidance for Small Private Gatherings (PDF). |
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USC Study Reveals Rise of Gatherings Among L.A. County Residents and Different HouseholdsThe University of Southern California’s Center for Social and Economic Research conducts a weekly representative survey with L.A. County residents about their actions through the pandemic. As cases increase in the county, survey respondents have also indicated increases in close contact between residents from different households and gatherings. This includes going to a reunion, wedding, funeral, birthday party, concert, or religious service or going to a friend, neighbor, or relative's house or having visitors at their house.
Since April, there has been a 57% increase in people reporting close contact with people they don't live with. More than 10% of respondents reported they had been at a gathering of more than 10 people in the last 7 days. For perspective, if 10% of L.A. county residents attend gatherings, this translates to 1 million people gathering with others not in their household. And if we assume that about 2% are infected, we could possibly have 20,000 people capable of infecting others at gatherings each week.
When combining information from the USC survey with information about exposures that are gathered through contact tracing, it points to increased gatherings being one of the drivers of the recent surge in cases in L.A. County.
To view the survey conducted by the University of Southern California’s Center for Social and Economic Research, visit covid19pulse.usc.edu. |
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Text Message Scam AlertThe L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs warns the public of a new COVID-19 text message scam: “You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment into your account.”
Scammers are posing as the IRS. Don't click on links, screenshot the text and email it to phishing@irs.gov. |
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L.A. County Parent Town Hall November 9Join the L.A. County Department of Public Health and the Office of Education for a virtual town hall event November 9 from 6-7 p.m. as they discuss steps being taken to protect children returning to school, the reopening process, school waivers, and more.
Tune in and submit questions at: tinyurl.com/WatchLACParentTownHall |
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ICMYI: Teens, Stress and Anxiety: How Parents Can HelpIn case you missed it, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District has uploaded a recording of the second event in its virtual Fall Parent Education Series with South Bay Families Connected and Dr. Moe Gelbart, titled, “Teens, Stress and Anxiety: How Parents Can Help.” Watch the virtual talk on PVPUSD’s YouTube channel at youtu.be/K2IqcxavdZg.
For a list of future events in the series, visit pvpusd.net.
For additional online youth wellness resources, including resources to support youths during distance learning, please visit southbayfamiliesconnected.org/pvpusd. |
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Watch Experts Discuss the Latest Updates on COVID-19 Vaccine DevelopmentThe sheer scale and lightning pace to develop a COVID-19 vaccine is unprecedented in modern science. Is a breakthrough just around the corner? Will it be a one-time dose or an annual necessity, like a flu shot? Join the California Medical Association November 10 at 12 p.m. for Virtual Grand Rounds: COVID-19 Vaccine Update. Three experts will share the latest update on the vaccine's progress, status of clinical trials and state distribution plans. Webinar participants will also hear from the lead of a statewide (NIH) grant focused on vaccine trials among vulnerable and underserved populations.
Register for the webinar at: bit.ly/cmacovid1 |
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Palos Verdes Peninsula Village Zoom Info Session November 19The 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, November 19 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. |
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Need someone to talk to?
We all need a friend now more than ever. Older adults in California can call Friendship Line California to get the support they need during COVID-19. Call the toll-free line 24/7 by dialing 888-670-1360. For more information, visit https://www.ioaging.org/friendship-line-california
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Seniors Now Eligible to Renew Driver’s Licenses OnlineCalifornians age 70 and older with a noncommercial driver’s license are now eligible to renew online or by mail, eliminating the need to visit a California Department of Motor Vehicles office. Licenses with an expiration date between March 1, 2020, throughout the COVID-19 emergency are eligible.
Through Executive Order, Governor Gavin Newsom has temporarily waived the California law requiring drivers age 70 and older to visit a DMV field office to renew their license for the length of California’s State of Emergency or until modified. The DMV is completing the programming necessary so customers who meet the criteria will be able to complete their renewal online beginning December 6.
Nearly all California drivers are now eligible to renew their license online or by mail – even if their renewal notice states an office visit is required.
The DMV previously provided yearlong extensions to senior drivers with noncommercial licenses expiring in March through December 2020. Those who received the extensions are eligible to renew online.
Commercial licenses, including those for drivers 70 and older, expiring between March and December are extended through December 2020, to align with federal guidelines.
The DMV previously expanded eligibility for drivers 69 and under to renew online, even if their DMV notification states they must come to an office. |
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Letter From Supervisor Hahn
On November 2, the City received a response from L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn to an October 6 letter from RPV Mayor John Cruikshank urging state and county officials to reassess reopening guidelines so that more businesses, more classrooms and places of worship can operate indoors in a manner that is safe and responsible. Supervisor Hahn expressed an understanding of the desire for smaller cities to seek variances from countywide restrictions, but noted that a proposal she and Supervisor Kathryn Barger made to allow the county to grant cities variances was not approved. Read Supervisor Hahn’s letter on the city website. |
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Need advice and support for your small business?The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by El Camino College provides no-cost, expert entrepreneurial consulting, education, COVID-19 resources and access to capital assistance to the small business community in the greater South Bay and Los Angeles area. SBDC is part of the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network, which assists small business owners throughout Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. For more information or to set up an appointment, call 310-225-8277 or visit southbaysbdc.org. |
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L.A. County Animal Care and Control Waives Cat Adoption Fees in November and DecemberThe L.A. County Department of Animal Care and Control is waiving cat adoption fees for the months of November and December. 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. |
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Upcoming Local Blood DrivesBlood 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:
November 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Congregation Ner Tamid Levine Center
5721 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes
Reserve a time online at redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: CNT
November 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
5845 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes
Reserve a time online at redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: LDSRPV
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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Reminder: Space Open in After School Recreational Enrichment Program
Registration is currently open for the After School Recreational Enrichment Program offered by the San Pedro & Peninsula YMCA and the City at Hesse Park! The after school program for grades K-5 takes place from 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday from through December 18. 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. Registration remains open.
For more information and to register for the After School Recreational Enrichment Program, visit bit.ly/3jg58gA or ymcala.org. Download a program flyer at: bit.ly/3gunjxl
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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Where L.A. County StandsL.A. County’s daily case numbers continue to keep the county in the state’s most restrictive purple tier (Tier 1) in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Currently, L.A. County's adjusted case rate is 7.5 new cases per 100,000 people. This is a decrease from the 8.0 adjusted case rate reported last week. The county must reduce its daily number of new cases to 7 or fewer new cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks in order to move to the next less restrictive Tier 2.
The county's overall test positivity rate is 4.0% which meets the threshold for Tier 3 and the test positivity rate in our lowest-resourced areas increased from 6.2% to 6.8% which still meets the threshold for Tier 2.
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CasesAs of November 5, there are 315,564 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 357 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes (population 41,731), 115 in Palos Verdes Estates (population 13,190), 52 in Rolling Hills Estates (population 8,066), 12 in Rolling Hills (population 1,874), and 13 in the unincorporated areas of the Peninsula. Countywide, 7,140 people have died.According to the Department of Public Health, 13 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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