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

California Announces Plan to Fully Reopen June 15

As California surpasses a major milestone in the fight against COVID — administering more than 20 million vaccine doses, including 4 million in the state’s hardest-hit communities, and with hospitalizations continuing to steadily decline — this week, Governor Gavin Newsom outlined the state’s next step in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, moving beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

On June 15, California will fully open its economy if two criteria are met:

If vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians 16 years and older who wish to be inoculated; and
If hospitalization rates are stable and low

Common sense health measures, including wearing masks will continue. Testing and vaccination requirements will remain for some businesses and industries.

Learn more about moving beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Point Vicente Interpretive Center to Reopen April 12

After more than a year of closure due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Point Vicente Interpretive Center will reopen to the public April 12 with new exhibits exploring the human and natural history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The museum will operate in compliance with state and county safety protocols, including a maximum of 20 visitors at a time (equivalent to 50% capacity as required in the state’s orange tier restrictions) and no more than six in one group. Safety measures include mandatory masks, physical distancing, a one-way flow of traffic, hand-sanitizing stations, safety protocol signage and frequent cleaning. Visitors exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home and postpone their visit. Due to the limited capacity, advanced timed-entry reservations are required and will be available at rpvca.gov/pvic. Walk-in visitors will be accommodated based on availability.

For a sneak peek of the new exhibits, a virtual tour filmed by RPVtv will be available for viewing during the virtual Whale of a Day celebration on April 10 at whaleofaday.com.

The new interactive exhibits will take visitors alongside gray whales and birds as they journey along the coast of the Peninsula. The displays also explore the history of animal and human migration and navigation.

Read a press release at: bit.ly/3t3bS6A

Where L.A. County Stands

Now that 4 million people have been vaccinated who are living in communities across the state in the Healthy Places Index quartile 1, L.A. County’s daily case rate must be at or below 5.9 new cases per 100,000 people and the county's test positivity rate must be at or below 4.9% to remain in the orange tier. To move to the less restrictive yellow tier the county's case rate must be less than 2 new cases per 100,000 people and test positivity must be less than 2%.

On April 6, the state released updated numbers: L.A. County's adjusted case rate remained at 3.1 new cases per 100,000 people. The test positivity rate dropped from 1.5% to 1.4% and in areas with the fewest health affirming resources, L.A. County’s test positivity rate dropped from 2.1% to 1.9%.

PVPUSD Updates

On April 5, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss provided an update on changes that will begin the process of bringing more students safely back on campus. Read the update at pvpusd.net. The district is also seeking feedback on interest in two potential programs: a Jump Start Program for grades K-12 to help mitigate learning loss students may have experienced during the pandemic; and a remote learning Independent Study program for grades TK-12. Give your feedback by filling out an interest form.

Additionally, PVPUSD has created a webpage with centralized information on reopening plans, updates and other helpful COVID-19 information for district families. Learn more at pvpusd.net

PVPTA Resumes Services

After one year of very limited operation, Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority (PVPTA) will resume modified operations on April 12. Service will be operated on all routes (except the Ridgecrest Shuttle) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday through the end of the school year. Route 225-226 will continue to operate every weekday.

Service will be provided for the hybrid schedules of all schools, as well as additional trips until after 5 p.m. to serve afterschool activities.

Bus capacity will be limited to 50% to ensure social distancing and face coverings will be required by all passengers.

Starting this Friday, April 9, PVPTA will begin operating the Preserve Shuttle for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. Park in the City Hall parking lot at 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard, board the shuttle and get off at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, Abalone Cove, or the Portuguese Bend Reserve. Shuttle runs every 30 mins from 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday and on holidays.

SCE: Be Wary of Impostors Offering COVID-19 Relief

Southern California Edison (SCE) is warning customers of a potential new scam, which involves impostors passing out postcards with unauthorized use of SCE and CPUC logos about a so-called COVID-19 relief program.

The postcard tries to bait customers into setting up an in-person meeting with a “representative” to discuss their eligibility for six months of relief on their SCE bills. At this meeting, the impostor takes down the customer’s information, going through a year of utility statements before asking for a copy of their credit report.

Scammers are also spoofing SCE's media hotline number (626-302-2255) and threatening customers with disconnection. Customers who receive calls or voicemails from this number should not redial or call any numbers left in the voicemails. Instead, they should dial the number listed on their SCE bill or SCE’s customer service center at 1-800-655-4555.

To learn more about SCE’s current COVID-19 customer protections, customers should visit sce.com/covid19. For those who are suspicious about a potential scam, including any COVID-19-related postcards, emails or calls from people claiming to be with SCE, they should always call the number listed on their SCE bills, SCE’s customer service center at 1-800-655-4555 or visit sce.com/scamalert.

Marymount California University Plans In-Person and Virtual Commencement Ceremonies

Marymount California University has announced it will celebrate the Class of 2021 with an in-person, outdoor commencement ceremony and mass on May 8. MCU will also host a virtual ceremony on May 7 for students, friends and family members who are unable to attend the on-campus events or prefer to participate online. Both options will also welcome 2020 graduates whose commencement was cancelled due to the pandemic. The ceremony will also be livestreamed. Learn more at marymountcalifornia.edu.

PVLD Grab & Go Services Start April 6

This week, the Palos Verdes Library District reopened its interiors to the public under a limited Grab & Go model at all library locations.

Grab & Go services include browsing the entire collection, 30 minutes of public computer use by reservation, access to printers and copiers, and passport services by appointment. The popular curbside service will continue at the Peninsula Center Library.

In accordance with L.A. County COVID guidelines, seating, study rooms, and meeting rooms will continue to be closed and all storytimes, tutors, study groups, and multi-person gatherings prohibited at all locations.

Parents and caregivers are strongly advised not to drop off students as hanging out at the library is not allowed at this time and they will be asked to leave.

Masks and social distancing rules will be enforced. Learn more at: pvld.org/grabandgo.

L.A. County Updates Travel Advisory

L.A. County has updated its travel advisory following new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for people who are fully vaccinated.

The CDC and L.A. County continue to urge that everyone avoid non-essential travel during this time when there are significant hot spots across the country and the world and significant risk from more infectious variants.

Travelers who are fully vaccinated, meaning 2 weeks have passed after their second dose for Pfizer or Moderna, or after their single dose of Johnson and Johnson, are, however, at lower risk and can now travel and will not be required to test or quarantine upon their arrival in Los Angeles County if they do not have any symptoms of illness.

Travelers who are not fully vaccinated must quarantine for 7 full days after travel if they receive a negative COVID-19 test result taken 3-5 days after their arrival. If a traveler does not get tested after they arrive in L.A. County, they must quarantine for a full 10 days.

All travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, must self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days after their arrival, and should get tested and isolate if they develop symptoms.

Visit publichealth.lacounty.gov for more information.

Vaccine Updates

COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to Expand to Ages 16+ Next Week

Starting April 15, COVID-19 vaccinations will become available to any resident in L.A. County who is 16 and older. Please note that only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for 16 and 17-year-olds, so be sure to choose a location where the Pfizer vaccine is offered when making an appointment. There are 5 million residents in this age group, and the L.A. County Department of Public Health estimates that 1 million have already been vaccinated with at least one dose. This leaves almost 3.9 million residents that will be eligible to be vaccinated in just a couple of weeks. This will be the largest number of people becoming eligible at any one time since the vaccination effort began in mid-December.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccinations in L.A. County, and to make an appointment, visit VaccinateLACounty.com. To sign up to be notified when you are eligible for your COVID-19 vaccination, visit MyTurn.ca.gov.

Vaccine Survey Scam Alert

The L.A. County Department of Public Health reminds the public that no legitimate surveys about the COVID-19 vaccine will ask for your credit card or bank account number to pay for a "free reward." For more information on COVID-19-related scams and fraud, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/hccp/covidscams.

Renter and Homeowner Resources

Behind on your rent? Here is what you need to know.

If you are a renter who has experienced COVID-related setbacks and you are behind on your rent, there are laws that may protect you from being evicted. However, those laws may be changing soon and you’re going to have to start paying any unpaid rent back – if you haven’t already. Get the info you need at dcba.lacounty.gov.

L.A. County Mortgage Relief Program to Offer $20,000 Grants to Property Owners Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic

The L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) is pleased to announce the new LA County Mortgage Relief Program, a partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services of LA County (NHS) and local HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. The $5.5 million initiative developed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will support property owners who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mortgage Relief Program will include a relief fund which provides grants of up to $20,000 for qualified property owners, plus expanded foreclosure prevention counseling services. The program is structured to benefit single-family homeowners and property owners with four or fewer units living in communities highly impacted by COVID-19. This includes low- and moderate-income communities and those who have suffered a higher percentage of significant health impacts during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Properties must be owner occupied.

NHS will administer the relief fund and deploy funds to qualified applicants from a diverse set of cities and unincorporated areas throughout Los Angeles County, excluding the City of Los Angeles. DCBA and NHS-LA have determined qualification requirements for applicants. Relief funds will be paid directly to lenders and servicers.

Starting Monday, April 12, property owners can apply for the Mortgage Relief Program by calling (888) 895-2647 or visiting nhslacounty.org/mortgagereliefprogram.

To find more ways how L.A. County can help property owners, visit DCBA’s foreclosure prevention website at dcba.lacounty.gov/foreclosure-prevention.

Small Business Grant Alert

Apply for a Grant from the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund April 11-18

The California Restaurant Foundation is excited to announce the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund! The fund will provide grants up to $3,500 to restaurants across California, with priority given to women and persons of color owned-restaurants.

The Resilience Fund will be open from April 11-18, 2021 and can be found at restaurantscare.org/resilience.

Virtual Programs

Don't miss Virtual Whale of a Day April 10!

In partnership with Los Serenos de Point Vicente, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is thrilled to announce Whale of a Day 2021 — a VIRTUAL event! This year’s event will showcase all the best our community has to offer while continuing to educate about the migration of the Pacific gray whale.

All content for the event will be free for viewing on Saturday, April 10 by visiting whaleofaday.com. There is no registration to participate in the event.

This is not a live event. All content will be made available on our website on Saturday, April 10 and will remain posted for your viewing pleasure! Mark your calendars today, and join us for a Virtual Whale of a Day.

Event Details

Debut of the NEW Point Vicente Interpretive Center Exhibits
Puppet Show “Guillermo goes to Mexico”
Abalone Cove Tide Pool Tour
Take part in the Silent Auction April 1-10
Native Plant Garden Tour
Whale Education
Story and craft demo
Learn about animal pelts and skulls
Entertainment and more!

If you have questions about this year's event, please contact the Recreation and Parks Department at events@rpvca.gov or 310-544-5260.

PVPLC Earth Day Virtual Presentation April 22

On April 22 at 7 p.m. the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy will partner with the Palos Verdes Library District, Friends of the Library, and the California Native Plant Society for a live Zoom event in celebration of Earth Day. The event will explore what each of us can do to renew the Earth and how our actions here on the Peninsula can impact the planet. The Earth Day online event will include a fascinating video presentation by Doug Tallamy, author of “Nature’s Best Hope” about how to support birds and wildlife with native plants in our yards. Learn more at pvplc.org.

Peninsula Seniors Virtual Activities

Peninsula Seniors is a nonprofit organization offering activities and services that enhance and enrich the lives of senior adults on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and in the surrounding community. While you’re staying safer at home, join Peninsula Seniors for a variety of Zoom activities throughout the week. For a calendar of activities for both members and non-members, visit pvseniors.org/events.

Palos Verdes Peninsula Village Zoom Info Session April 9

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, April 9 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.

Outdoor Recreation Programs

Share your Earth Day Campaign project with the City!

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes invites residents to celebrate Earth Day April 1-22 by completing acts of service such as composting, recycling, participating in a beach cleanup, building a garden, or planting a tree! Email photos of your project to events@rpvca.gov and they may be shared on the City's social media pages and the City website!

Find more activities in the Spring 2021 Recreation Guide!

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.

For more information, visit 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.

Upcoming Local Blood Drives

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:

Thursday, April 15
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ascension Lutheran Church
26231 Silver Spur Road

Tuesday, April 20
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.

Friday, April 23
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Christ Lutheran Church
28850 S. Western Avenue

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)

Data

Cases

As of April 8, there are 1,223,791 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Los Angeles County (population 10.17 million). The total includes 1,466 cases in Rancho Palos Verdes (population 42,747), 443 in Palos Verdes Estates (population 13,522), 274 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, 23,388 people have died.

According to the L.A. County Department of Public Health, 53 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 March 22, 42.7% of Rancho Palos Verdes residents age 18 and over received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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/