COVID-19: Message from Paul Koretz, testing, new CDC isolation guidelines, face coverings, delivery workers, Census, extra trash pick-up, DMV update & credible resources for info
Governor Newsom’s “Six Indicators" to lift stay-at-home order
Governor Gavin Newsom just announced six indicators that will serve as a framework for when the stay-at-home order will be lifted for Californians. They are:
The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed:
The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19;
The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges;
The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand;
The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and
The ability to determine when to re-institute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.
The Governor said there is not a precise timeline for modifying the stay-at-home order, but that these six indicators will serve as the framework moving forward.
He also noted that things would look different in California when the stay-at-home order is lifted. For example, restaurants will have fewer tables and classrooms will be reconfigured.
A big step towards re-opening our State will be for Californians to continue social distancing measures; which are greatly working to help flatten our curve and reduce hospitalizations.
For more information on California’s response, visit covid19.ca.gov.
Six critical indicators to be considered before the Stay at Home orders are modified in California.
Extra Trash Collection Service
The City has introduced extra trash collection services under the Safer At Home emergency order. On regularly scheduled collection days, residents can go outside to meet the Sanitation truck and wait for the sanitation worker to pick up the collection; then they can refill their black and blue bins if they have more trash, and the worker — who will remain in the truck — will take those away too. The free service will be in place until the stay-at-home order is lifted.
Questions? Call Los Angeles Sanitation Dept. 24-hour customer call center at 800-773-2489.
COVID-19 Causes Census to temporarily suspend all field activities
As California's "Stay At Home" order continues, the U.S. Census Bureau says they are suspending all field activities until June 1. This will delay the end of the data collection period of the census until October 31.
Despite the delay, the agency reports that "Californians are submitting their Census surveys at a faster rate than other states currently California's self-response rate is at 48.3%, just outpacing the national rate of 47.9%."
You can submit your response online anytime at https://my2020census.gov/, by mail with your invitation, or by phone at 844-330-2020.
DMV Update
The California Department of Motor Vehicles is extending driver licenses expiring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Licenses for drivers younger than 70 that expire between March and May 2020 are now valid through May 31, 2020.
All commercial driver licenses, endorsements and certificates expiring between March and June 2020 are now valid through June 30, 2020, aligning with a recent emergency declaration from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The extension does not include medical certificates for commercial drivers, which requires additional administrative actions scheduled in the near future.
The DMV has alerted California law enforcement of the extensions. Californians with a suspended license are not eligible.
The DMV continues to review and process online renewals, and encourages drivers who are eligible to renew their license online to do so.
The extensions require no individual action on the part of drivers. These drivers will not receive a new card or an extension in the mail. As an option, these drivers can request a free temporary paper extension online through DMV’s Virtual Field Office to document their extension.
The Virtual Field Office, virtual.dmv.ca.gov, builds on the other online services already available to DMV customers at dmv.ca.gov, including driver license renewals.
The temporary extensions are in addition to other steps the DMV announced earlier this month to help Californians with expiring licenses, including:
A 120-day extension for drivers age 70 and older. Drivers age 70 and older with expiring noncommercial licenses are receiving an extension in the mail automatically.
Temporarily waiving required in-person renewals for eligible driver license and identification cardholders with expirations in March, April, and May 2020. Individuals who meet the criteria are able to renew online or by mail.
The DMV continues to provide essential services via mail, online, kiosks, its call center, available business partners and now virtually to process critical transactions, including eligible driver license and vehicle registration renewals, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers can use the Services Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.
The measures to help Californians with expiring driver licenses are the latest DMV actions during the coronavirus pandemic, including:
Temporarily closing field offices. Following deep cleaning, expansion of virtual services and development of new protocols, the DMV soon will offer in-person services in each region. Information on office openings will be announced by DMV in the near future.
Canceling all behind-the-wheel drive tests to honor social distancing guidelines.
Suspending extended office hours and Saturday service.
Credible resources for official information:
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: http://ph.lacounty.gov/
City of LA Emergency Coronavirus Info: https://corona-virus.la/
CD5 Resources: http://www.councilmemberpaulkoretz.com/covid-19-news
Visit the Los Angeles County website: http://lacounty.gov/covid19
Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/
Los Angeles Unified School District: https://achieve.lausd.net
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority: https://www.lahsa.org
Sign up for emergency notifications from the City of LA at NotifyLA.com
Text your zip code to the number 888777 to receive emergency text alerts
Call 3-1-1 for City of Los Angeles Service and referral hotline
Call 2-1-1 - Los Angeles Countys 24/7 emergency and referral hotline
Here to Serve
My office, like all City of Los Angeles offices, is following recommended protocols such as social distancing and working remotely to slow the spread of the coronavirus. That said, my staff and I are always readily available to help with your questions, concerns, and needs during this difficult period. We can be reached by phone at 213-473-7005, 323-866-1828 (West LA), or 818-971-3088 (Encino) and through email paul.koretz@lacity.org. Since we are experiencing a higher-than-normal volume of calls, feel free to email the staff member you wish to contact directly. The accompanying link contains those e-mail addresses.
Testing
The City of Los Angeles, in partnership with Los Angeles County, expanded its COVID-19 testing program. Now, any resident of LA County is eligible to receive a test if they are experiencing symptoms. Same or next-day testing appointments are available. For more information and to sign up for a test, visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing or lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs.
For guidance on what to do depending on the result of your COVID-19 test, click here.
New CDC Isolation Guidelines
Last week, the CDC established new guidelines to keep our communities safe from the spread of COVID-19. If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19, you must notify anyone you’ve been in close contact with, starting from 48 hours before you showed any symptoms. Close contact is defined by less than 6 feet of distance for a period of over 10 minutes. By letting your contacts know you’ve tested positive, you’re helping to reduce further spread of the virus.
Face Coverings
LA County and LA City issued new guidelines around wearing face coverings. Effective as of April 15, essential workers and customers visiting essential businesses are required to wear face coverings. In addition, everyone is required to wear face coverings on buses, trains and other places where people are close by.
L.A. County Moves to Protect Delivery Workers
Los Angeles County leaders have approved new rules aimed at protecting the health of food delivery workers, who are playing a key role in getting meals and groceries to housebound residents. The rules require food delivery platforms to provide access to face coverings and gloves or hand sanitizer to workers, either by supplying them directly or making funds available to pay for them. The rules also require companies to provide a "no contact" delivery option, and that grocery and pharmacy stores allow delivery workers to use their restrooms to wash their hands.
LA TIMES “L.A. County moves to protect delivery workers, limit number of customers in stores”
COVID-19 Causes Census to temporarily suspend all field activities
As California's "Stay At Home" order continues, the U.S. Census Bureau says they are suspending all field activities until June 1. This will delay the end of the data collection period of the census until October 31.
Despite the delay, the agency reports that "Californians are submitting their Census surveys at a faster rate than other states currently California's self-response rate is at 48.3%, just outpacing the national rate of 47.9%."
