The Latest

Final COVID-19 Community Update - We got through it together, RPV. 

It started on a surreal, whirlwind weekend in March 2020. Watching as panicked shoppers cleaned out the shelves at local grocery stores, then-Mayor Cruikshank and Mayor Pro Tem Alegria wanted to send a message to residents assuring calm and providing clear, credible information amid the chaos. Another message went out the next day, and the next, and the next. For the past 15 months, the City’s COVID-19 Community Updates provided residents with the latest coronavirus news, public health guidance and resources. As the pace of the pandemic evolved, so did the newsletter’s.
 
Now, with most restrictions lifted and almost three-quarters of RPV residents ages 16+ at least partially vaccinated (including 89.7% of those 65+), we have come to a point to retire the COVID-19 Community Updates.
 
But don’t worry, any major updates will be shared on the Breaking News listserv (if you received this message in an email, you’re already subscribed), the City’s social media channels and in the City Manager’s Weekly Administrative Report. Be sure to follow the City on Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
We’ll also continue to maintain rpvca.gov/coronavirus, the City’s hub for COVID-19 information and resources. There you’ll find a dashboard with the latest case and vaccination stats for all of L.A. County, including RPV.
 
Thank you for reading, for sharing your feedback, and most of all, for stepping up to support your neighbors, those in need and our essential workers during this unprecedented time. The pandemic demonstrated how our actions truly go beyond ourselves as individuals and impact our larger community. Remember that.
 
Finally, our thoughts are with the families of the 58 RPV residents who tragically lost their lives to this virus. Let us honor their memory by taking the necessary steps to keep it from resurging. According to the L.A. County Department of Public Health, almost all new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are occurring among people who are not fully vaccinated. It’s never been easier to get a vaccination. Find locations and answers to questions you may have about getting vaccinated at vaccinatelacounty.com. 
 
As always, the City is here for your questions and concerns.
 
Reopening RPV

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is finalizing its full reopening plans for City Hall and City facilities. Stay tuned for updates on public counters, City Council and committee meetings, facility rentals, and more. In the meantime, City Hall remains open to the public with masks and physical distancing.

Countywide Eviction Moratorium Extended through September 30

On Tuesday, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to extend the countywide moratorium on evictions to September 30.

As a reminder, the moratorium prevents both residential and commercial tenants in L.A. County (including those in Rancho Palos Verdes) from being evicted for not paying their rent, for no-fault reasons, and other violations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The statewide eviction moratorium is set to expire on June 30 (and the federal eviction moratorium was extended today through July 31). However, Governor Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers are negotiating an agreement for an extension.

If you have questions about the countywide eviction moratorium, call (833) 223-RENT (7368), email rent@dcba.lacounty.gov, or visit dcba.lacounty.gov/noevictions.

Updated Travel Guidance

Traveling to and from L.A. County?

• Everyone needs to wear a mask while traveling
• Fully vaccinated people do not need to quarantine or test before/after traveling.
• Those not vaccinated should test before they travel and
  quarantine upon arrival.

Read L.A. County’s updated travel advisory at: bit.ly/3vrbcs5

California Launches New Digital Tool Giving Residents Convenient Access to Their COVID-19 Vaccine Record

Last week, the California Department of Public Health and California Department of Technology announced a new Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record for Californians, available at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov. The tool is a convenien­­­t option for Californians who received a COVID-19 vaccination to access their record from the state's immunization registry systems.
 
The Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record is easy to use: a person enters their name, date of birth, and an email or mobile phone number associated with their vaccine record. After creating a 4-digit PIN, the user receives a link to their vaccine record that will open upon re-entry of the PIN.
 
The record shows the same information as the paper CDC vaccine card: name, date of birth, date of vaccinations, and vaccine manufacturer. It also includes a QR code that makes these same details readable by a QR scanner. Once the digital record is received, individuals are encouraged to screenshot the information and save it to their phone files or camera roll.
 
For more information about the Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record, visit covid19.ca.gov. Californians can correct or update their immunization record at cdph.ca.gov/covidvaccinerecord.

Get vaccinated for a chance to win tickets to Six Flags, the LA Zoo, the Natural History Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits and the California Science Center!

Beginning tomorrow, Friday, June 25 to next Thursday, July 1 at L.A. County-run vaccination sites, participating L.A. city and mobile sites, and St. John’s Well Child and Family Center sites, everyone 18 and older coming to get a vaccine will have an opportunity to win one of two packages, each containing season passes to Six Flags, the LA Zoo, the Natural History Museum and the La Brea Tar Pits, and ticket packs to the California Science Center. The Pepe Aguilar and Universal Studios Hollywood ticket vaccination sweepstakes is in effect through tonight, June 24. Some vaccination sites are open as late as 8 p.m. Find official rules and participating site locations at: bit.ly/3hDMPo

IRS Online Tool Helps Families See if They Qualify for Child Tax Credit

Want to check whether your family qualifies for advance Child Tax Credit payments? The new Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant on IRS.gov launched earlier this week, is interactive and easy to use, and doesn't ask for sensitive information such as name, SSN, address or bank account numbers. By answering a series of questions about themselves and their family members, a parent or other family member can quickly determine whether they qualify for the credit, which was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act. Use it online at: go.usa.gov/x6yj

DMV Offers Free REAL ID Upgrade

The Department of Motor Vehicles invites all eligible Californians who received driver’s licenses or identification cards during the pandemic but did not get a REAL ID to upgrade now for no additional cost. This offer is set to expire at the end of the year.

An office visit is required to get a REAL ID. During the pandemic, the DMV temporarily expanded eligibility to renew online or by mail to include Californians age 70 and older, and customers who had reached their limit on out-of-office renewals – customers normally required to renew in person. The DMV expects to issue about 5.7 million driver’s licenses and IDs that are not REAL IDs between March 2020 and July 2021 to customers eligible for one. A fee is paid at the time of driver’s license application for a new license or renewal. That fee will be waived for the customers who received a non-REAL ID during that time if they upgrade now at dmv.ca.gov/realidupgrade.

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.

To apply for a REAL ID, an applicant must provide a valid Social Security number, proof of identity and two proofs of California residency. A list of qualifying documents and other helpful information can be found at REALID.dmv.ca.gov.

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs: What are the side effects?

• Pfizer-BioNTech: The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever. More people experienced these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose; you can expect that there may be some side effects after either dose, but even more so after the second dose. Source: FDA
• Moderna: The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes in the same arm as the injection, nausea and vomiting, and fever. More people experienced these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose; you can expect that there may be some side effects after either dose, but even more so after the second dose. Source: FDA
• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson): The most commonly reported side effects were pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and nausea. Most of these side effects occurred within 1-2 days following vaccination and were mild to moderate in severity and lasted 1-2 days. Source: FDA
• Experiencing side effects is a normal sign that your body is building protection. Source: CDC
• You may get side effects in the first 2 days after getting the vaccine. Side effects are more common in younger people. They usually do not last long, and you should feel better within a day or two.

 
For more FAQs, visit the Beach Cities Health District’s COVID-19 vaccine webpage at bchd.org/covidvaccine.

Renter Resources

COVID-19 Housing Rights Workshop June 25

Not sure if you're protected under L.A. County’s extended eviction moratorium? Join the Housing Rights Center this Friday, June 25 at 2 p.m. for a COVID-19 Housing Rights Workshop to learn more about COVID-19 tenant rights. RSVP at: housingrightscenter.org/register

Need Help Managing Financial Concerns Due to COVID-19? 

Are you or your community members feeling stressed and overwhelmed about finances? Help is available through the L.A. County Financial Navigators program. 
Financial Navigators are here to help prioritize your financial concerns, identify immediate action steps, and make referrals to other social services and resources that may offer long-term assistance. A Navigator can guide through some of the following concerns:

• Paying for daily expenses
• Supplementing income
• Paying back debt
• Locating food and housing resources
• Finding special services or resources for you and your family
• How to stay well and plan ahead

Community members who live in L.A. County and are facing financial difficulties can get started with a Financial Navigator by completing a short online interest form. You can also call (800) 593-8222 for assistance in completing the form. Sign up today to get a free session!

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 an upcoming blood drive in Rancho Palos Verdes:
 
Monday, June 28
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ascension Lutheran Church
26231 Silver Spur Road

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

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 June 20, 73.2% of Rancho Palos Verdes residents age 16 and over received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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/