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

Happy Hanukkah!

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes wishes all who celebrate a Happy Hanukkah!
As a reminder, the L.A. County Department of Public Health recommends staying home and celebrating holidays only with people who live in your household. Connect with friends and family you don’t live with using all of the technology that allows us to see and hear each other from afar.

Stay Home and Save Lives

Daily case numbers are unlike any we have ever seen in L.A. county; because of this, activities we were able to do just a couple of weeks ago now present too much risk for virus transmission.

As of Sunday night, at 11:59 p.m., the state’s new Regional Stay Home Order is in effect in Southern California. The state order will remain in effect for at least three weeks and prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes sector operations, limits occupancy at various businesses, and requires 100% masking and physical distancing. The L.A. County Department of Public Health reminds all residents that they need to stay at home except for essential activities and to provide or access essential services. Outdoor recreation with members of your household is allowed, and we encourage you to do so during this very difficult time. Being outdoors and getting exercise is very important for both physical and emotional wellbeing. When you are out of your home, wear a face covering and keep distance of at least 6 feet at all times from anyone not from your household.

Playgrounds Now Open

On December 9, the State of California announced that outdoor playgrounds that were closed under the Regional Stay Home Order may reopen to facilitate physically distanced personal health and wellness through outdoor exercise. The L.A. County Department of Public Health revised its Health Officer Order accordingly. All playgrounds at Rancho Palos Verdes parks are now open to the public.

All visitors to City playgrounds must comply with posted guidelines that outline the following requirements from the California Department of Public Health:

Face masks over the mouth and nose are required for everyone 2 years of age or older with caregiver supervision at all times to ensure face mask use.
Do not use the playground when different households are unable to maintain a physical distance of 6 feet.
Caregivers must monitor to keep adults and children from different households at least 6 feet apart.
Consider coming on different times or days to avoid wait times and potential crowded times.
No eating or drinking in playground, to ensure face masks are worn at all times.
Wash or sanitize hands before and after using the playground.
Elderly and persons with underlying medical conditions should avoid playground when others are present.
Limit visit to 30 min per day when others are present.

Due to a recent unrelated inspection of playground equipment by the City, some equipment will remain closed to the public until further notice so upgrades can be installed:

Swings for ages 5-12 years at Hesse Park, Ryan Park, Ladera Linda Park, and Eastview Park
Select playground structure elements, including slides and climbers at Hesse Park and Ladera Linda Park

A schedule for the remaining work is under development and will be shared as soon as it is available. The following equipment is open to the public:

Playground structures at Hesse Park, Ryan Park, Ladera Linda Park, and Eastview Park
Swings for ages 4 years and under at Eastview Park and Ryan Park

If you have questions, please contact the Recreation and Parks Department at 310-544-5260 or parks@rpvca.gov.

Sign Up for CA Notify

In this time of alarming rises in cases and hospitalizations, it is more important than ever that all Californians do their part to stop the surge. Starting today, Californians can opt in to receive COVID-19 notifications informing them if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus.

CA Notify will alert users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. With that information, they can make responsible decisions around quarantine and testing, which is essential for stopping the surge.

CA Notify is completely voluntary and free, and is designed to protect your privacy. It does not use device location to detect exposures and does not share your identity to other users. And individuals can securely report if they test positive, so that others can be notified of exposure without indicating their identity.

The technology is available through the Google Play store on Android devices or through iOS settings on Apple devices. For more information about CA Notify, visit canotify.ca.gov.

Vaccine Update

The Beach Cities Health District provides an update on the status of COVID-19 vaccine candidates:

When will I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

There are currently two vaccine candidates that have applied for FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna. The FDA’s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee met to discuss granting EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 10 and will discuss the Moderna vaccine on December 17. The Committee endorsed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine; it will now need to be authorized by the FDA.

Following each FDA hearing, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet to vote on whether to recommend the vaccines and develop guidelines for prioritization. California has also launched an independent Safety Review Work Group with Washington, Oregon and Nevada that will also review and approve the safety and efficacy data before the vaccine can be distributed.

COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1 Sequence

When a vaccine is approved and ready, distribution will be phased across populations. The only prioritization that is approved by the ACIP is for Phase 1a: healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents. Groups 1b and 1c are proposed and still need to go through the approval process.

Phase 1a: Recommended

Health Care Personnel
Long-term Care Facility Residents

Phase 1b: Proposed

Essential Workers

Examples: Education Sector, Food & Agriculture, Utilities, Police, Firefighters, Corrections Officers, Transportation

Phase 1c: Proposed

Adults with high-risk medical conditions
Adults 65+

Source: CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

The COVID-19 vaccine development is continually evolving. Even with vaccines on the horizon, it remains essential that we continue to follow the health guidance. It truly is safest at home. If you leave your home to deliver or receive essential services, you must wear your face covering correctly and physically distance yourself from others.

L.A. County Launches Holiday COVID-19 Home Test Collection Pilot

This week, L.A. County launched a new COVID-19 home test collection program, which allows certain county residents to do free testing from the comfort of their own homes.
The home test collection program will run through January 15, 2021. It aims to help address the current surge in demand for testing and reduce the spread of COVID-19 during the holiday season when people may risk exposure.

Individuals can have testing kits mailed to their home if they:

Have COVID-19 symptoms; or
Were recently in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or is suspected of having it; or
Are a senior or person with disabilities who feel they were exposed to COVID-19, but are unable to go to a testing site.

The temporary program will use Picture COVID-19, an FDA-approved home collection test developed by Fulgent Genetics, Inc. For information on how to register, individuals should go to the county COVID-19 testing site. If they qualify, Fulgent Genetics will ship a collection kit to their home within two days.

Individuals taking the test at home should follow the directions to collect the sample and take it to a FedEx drop box the same day or have someone take it to a drop box on their behalf. Individuals will receive the results by e-mail within two days. While waiting for the testing kit and the results, individuals should continue following public health guidance on staying home and avoiding contact with others.

To learn more about COVID-19 testing in L.A. County, visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.

Your ‘Bubble’ is Only as Safe as ALL of the People In It

About 1 in 140 people in L.A. County are currently infected with COVID-19. The Department of Public Health reminds us that when there is this much virus circulating in our communities, your bubble is no longer safe. Don’t meet up with people you don’t live with, the risk is too high.

Take the Safe in the South Bay Individual Pledge

By taking the pledge, you are committing to do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by protecting yourself and others. In addition to infection control best practices to keep you safe from COVID-19, you pledge to also focus on ways to care for your body, mind and community as we navigate the pandemic, and this new normal, together. Learn more at bchd.org/pledge.

Small Business Strong Webinar December 11

Entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators are facing many challenges, as the way we live, play, and work is disrupted due to COVID-19. Learn to grow your business and sharpen your skills by joining the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Strong webinar this Friday, December 11 at 10 a.m.

The Small Business Strong series focuses on practical tips and techniques to survive the current economic crisis that small businesses are facing. Expert consultants will walk you through the process on how to start applying them towards your business.

Register at: bit.ly/smbizstrong

COVID-19 vaccines are in the pipeline. Scammers won’t be far behind.

Reports about the release of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of the year are promising, but plans for distribution are still being worked out. The Federal Trade Commission reminds the public to know that COVID-19 vaccines are in the pipeline and scammers won’t be far behind.

While we wait for a timeline and more information, there’s no doubt scammers will be scheming. Here’s what you need to know to avoid a vaccine-related scam:

You likely will not need to pay anything out of pocket to get the vaccine during this public health emergency.
You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine.
You can’t pay to get early access to the vaccine.
No one from a vaccine distribution site or health care payer, like a private insurance company, will call you asking for your Social Security number or your credit card or bank account information to sign you up to get the vaccine.
Beware of providers offering other products, treatments, or medicines to prevent the virus. Check with your health care provider before paying for or receiving any COVID-19-related treatment.

If you get a call, text, email — or even someone knocking on your door — claiming they can get you early access to the vaccine, STOP. That’s a scam. Don’t pay for a promise of vaccine access or share personal information. Instead, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or file a complaint with your state or territory attorney general through consumerresources.org, the consumer website of the National Association of Attorneys General.

Learn more at: go.usa.gov/x7hnM

Scam Alert: Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Postcards

Scams targeting utility customers increase during times of uncertainty. If you are suspicious about any COVID-19-related postcards, emails or calls you receive from people claiming to be with SCE, you are urged to call SCE at 1-800-655-4555 or visit sce.com/scamalert.

ICMYI: Building Resilience & Paving a Path for Success: Tips for Elementary Parents

In case you missed it, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District has uploaded a recording of the final event in its virtual Fall Parent Education Series with South Bay Families Connected and Dr. Moe Gelbart, titled, “Building Resilience & Paving a Path for Success: Tips for Elementary Parents” Watch the virtual talk on PVPUSD’s YouTube channel at youtu.be/JfqSSRENmKw.

For additional online youth wellness resources, including resources to support youths during distance learning, please visit southbayfamiliesconnected.org/pvpusd.

LAUSD Suspends School-Based Instruction and Childcare Due to Dangerous Increase of COVID-19

With COVID-19 case levels in Los Angeles at record highs – nearly three times higher than those in San Francisco and twice those in New York City – this week, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner announced the suspension of all school-based instructional and childcare programs for the rest of the fall semester.

LAUSD has been providing one-on-one and small-group tutoring for students, and those efforts will now shift to online. LAUSD is also temporarily suspending childcare which was provided on campus for children of school-based employees and high-needs families, as well as athletic conditioning programs for student athletes. The changes on school campuses will all be in effect by today.

LAUSD’s Grab & Go Food Centers, which have provided more than 85 million meals along with 10 million items of need supplies as part of a nation-leading, school-based relief effort, will continue to operate at school sites. The district will also continue its free COVID-19 testing program at schools, which is helping protect the health of all in the school community and will also provide important information needed to reopen schools when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

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.

Are you a Peninsula restaurant offering takeout, delivery, curbside pickup or drive-thru service? Let us know! Email info to mbright@rpvca.gov.

Letters to County Officials on Outdoor Dining

Following authorization by the City Council in closed session, last week, city staff sent a letter to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors and Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer requesting the board rescind its decision to prohibit outdoor dining in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases. The letter noted a lack of scientific evidence to support the modified order to shut down outdoor dining and stressed that tens of thousands of jobs and businesses have been jeopardized by the prohibition. The City also urged the county to take a localized approach to reopening, noting that the Department of Public Health divides the county into eight Service Planning Areas (SPAs) to better serve the needs of residents across the county, but has imposed the same COVID-19-related restrictions across the county.

A similar letter signed by the mayors of the four Peninsula cities was sent to the Board of Supervisors on December 7. The following day, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant issued a tentative ruling on a legal challenge to the county’s order prohibiting outdoor dining from the California Restaurant Association. The ruling tentatively limits the order to be in effect until December 16 and requires the county to provide a risk-benefit analysis to extend the order. It should be noted, however, that outdoor dining will remain prohibited until the state’s Regional Stay Home Order, which overrides the county order, is lifted. Read the tentative ruling at the following link: http://www.lacourt.org/tentativeRulingNet/ui/Result.aspx?Referer=Index

Read the letters in the City Manager’s Weekly Administrative Report.

Learning Together Safely with At Home Activities

You’re staying home, so the Los Angeles County Library has created lots of library resources to help your child learn, create, and discover, right where you are!
Looking for ways to learn something new or spark your child's creativity? Check out the Activity Ideas (from arts and crafts to scavenger hunts), DIY Library Programs, and Books & Learning lists (which pair great books with other online resources). The L.A. County Library has so many great activities to keep you and your child learning creatively from the safety and comfort of your home.

Activities are also available in Spanish.

And don't forget about our local library resources at the Palos Verdes Library District, and all the great offerings they provide to our community. Check it out today: www.pvld.org.

LASD Santa’s Sleigh Ride Canceled

On December 7, the Lomita Sheriff’s Station announced on Facebook that it has canceled this year’s Santa’s Sleigh Ride through neighborhoods in the station’s service area, including Rancho Palos Verdes, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you, Lomita Station, for brightening the holidays for us through the years and keeping us safe, and we look forward to Santa’s return!

Looking for a fun and safe activity to get your child outside this holiday season? Get Outdoors with Elf in the Park!

Rancho the Elf has been having fun causing all kinds of mischief in the City’s parks! Each week in December, he will be visiting a different RPV park. Use the clues below to find him:

December 7-13

Rancho likes to pretend he is the Captain of the great tall sailing ship The Ryan when he plays at this park!

December 14- 20

Batter up! Rancho’s favorite sport is baseball and his all-time favorite player is Fred McGriff!

December 21-27

Did you know that December marks the start of the migration of the Pacific gray whale? Rancho's polished up his binoculars and is getting ready to look for whales at his favorite point and will enjoy seeing any nearby lighthouses.

December 28-31

Rancho grew up in a forest and he loves to go hiking in his free time, so this park on Forrestal Drive sounded like a whole lotta fun!

Once you find him, please take a selfie with Rancho and share it using #RanchoTheParkElf

Participating Parks: Point Vicente Interpretive Center, Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park, Robert Ryan Park, Ladera Linda Park, and Eastview Park.

For more information, please contact the Recreation and Parks Department at parks@rpvca.gov or 310-544-5260.

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

The L.A. County Department of Animal Care and Control is waiving cat adoption fees for the month of 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.

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, December 15 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

As of December 10, there are 487,917 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 509 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes (population 41,731), 161 in Palos Verdes Estates (population 13,190), 89 in Rolling Hills Estates (population 8,066), 16 in Rolling Hills (population 1,874), and 25 in the unincorporated areas of the Peninsula. Countywide, 8,149 people have died.

According to the Department of Public Health, 11 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.

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about the 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
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/