COVID-19 Update
If you tested positive for COVID-19, you should expect a call from a county public health specialist as part of an effort to contact trace and contain the spread of the virus. They are not law enforcement officers and will not ask about immigration status. The call will appear on your phone as “L.A. Public Health.” Please pick up – contact tracing can help save lives.
Due to public health concerns caused by COVID-19, every registered voter in California will receive a mail-in ballot in time for the November 2020 election. Voting from home will help protect yourself and others from the virus. Please run through the checklist below to ensure all your information is up to date. If you see something that’s outdated, you can change it by going to lavote.net or calling 800-815-2666.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us about the importance of ensuring state and local governments have adequate resources to address the needs of their communities. In order to get an accurate count in the 2020 Census, every resident of our community must respond to the census. Please remember to complete your census form, either online, by phone or by mail to do your part in helping our community receive its fair share of federal resources to benefit schools, roads, hospitals, emergency preparedness plans and more.
Have you witnessed fraud, waste, or abuse of coronavirus pandemic relief funds? Congress has approved over $3 trillion in federal spending to combat the pandemic and I am committed to ensuring your tax dollars are being spent properly. I encourage you to visit coronavirus.house.gov/contact/tip-line or call 202-225-4400 today to report waste, fraud, or abuse of COVID-19 funds.
From the State
California is calling on healthcare providers, behavioral health professionals and health care administrators to join the California Health Corps and help fight COVID-19. So far, over 96,000 people have filled out an application and 741 Health Corps members have been deployed to skilled nursing, corrections and other facilities. If you are over 18 and have a California License for clinical practice, or are a medical resident or nursing student, you can play a role in responding to the crisis in your region. You will be paid and given malpractice insurance coverage. To register, click here.
On May 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization allowing the use of remdesivir, an inhaled antiviral drug, to treat adults and children hospitalized with COVID-19. Remdesivir has proven effective in helping to treat the virus for some patients. Due to the drug’s limited availability, the federal government agreed to ship remdesivir only to states with increasing cases, including California. Governor Newsom announced that the state received its first inventory of remdesivir and is in the process of distributing it to local providers. For more on the allocation of remdesivir in California, click here.
From LA County
Beaches in LA County are now open following the temporary closure over the July 4th holiday weekend. Beach parking lots, bike paths, facilities and access ways are also open. Remember: face coverings are required on all L.A. County beaches when you are out of the water and around others.
Bars, breweries, pubs, wineries and tasting rooms remain closed, in addition to indoor dining services, cardrooms, satellite wagering facilities, zoos, aquariums and museums. For a full list of what is open and closed in LA County, click here.
Last month, when bars and restaurants started to reopen in LA County, the county Public Health Department discovered that 83% of these locations were violating some part of the public health protocols. Now, county inspections have seen a 90-98% compliance rate at the same businesses. For business safety protocols, please visit covid19.lacounty.gov/recovery.
The LA County Department of Public Health updated its reopening guidance for Places of Worship to align with Governor Newsom’s recent directives. The new order prohibits singing and chanting during indoor services to prevent the spread of COVID-19 droplets. Although LA County published reopening protocols for Places of Worship, it is still recommending they continue to facilitate remote services.
LA County is encouraging all those who’d like to receive a COVID-19 test to contact their Primary Care Provider first to request a test at their facility. If you don’t have access to this care or are unable to contact your provider, free testing is available across LA County. To schedule a test, please go to covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. You can also check with your nearby CVS to see whether you can receive a test there.
Additional Resources
1. LA County is encouraging all those who’d like to receive a COVID-19 test to contact their Primary Care Provider first to request a test at their facility. If you don’t have access to this care or are unable to contact your provider, free testing is available across LA County. To schedule a test, please go to covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. You can also check with your nearby CVS to see whether you can receive a test there.
2. The LA County Department of Public Health updated its COVID-19 data portal to display key data points such as new daily cases, number of people tested and hospitalization numbers. Click here to view the new data display.
3. The federal government extended the deadline for small businesses to apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through August 8, 2020. PPP loans can be used to cover payroll, rent and other costs and can be forgiven if 60% of the funds are used for payroll. To learn more about the Paycheck Protection Program and get started, click here.
4. If you are a taxpayer living or working abroad, you have until Wednesday, July 15 to file and pay your 2019 federal income taxes. For more information, click here.
5. California launched the Shop Safe Shop Local campaign to support small businesses, their employees and the communities they serve. The site contains resources for small businesses, industry guidance, free business consulting and more.
6. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the LA County Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-978-3600 to report it.
7. The CDC issued a health advisory warning against using any hand sanitizer manufactured by “Eskbiochem SA de CV” due to the presence of a toxic alcohol which can cause blindness or death when absorbed through the skin or swallowed. In addition, the FDA added five hand sanitizers to the list of products testing positive for toxic chemicals. Do not use:
1. Grupo Insoma’s Hand Sanitizer Gel Unscented, 70% alcohol
2. Transliquid Technologies’ Mystic Shield Protection Hand Sanitizer
3. Soluciones Cosmeticas’ Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free
4. Soluciones Cosmeticas Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer
5. Tropicosmeticos’ Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%
8. LA County is seeking input from individuals with ideas about how to help businesses and identify potential cost-savings as a part of the larger effort to create an economic roadmap to recovery. If you have ideas, please submit them here.
9. The LA County Arts Internship Program is offering 200 paid, remote-flexible internships with arts organizations in the area. Apply here starting July 15.
10. Older adults feeling stressed or alone can call the California Department of Aging Friendship Line at 888-670-1360. It’s free and open 24/7.
11. The City of Los Angeles created a COVID-19 threat level indicator. The threat level is still at orange, meaning individuals should minimize all contact and stay home as often as possible. If the situation improves or worsens, the city will change the level and adjust public health directives accordingly.
12. Renters in the City of Los Angeles can apply for up to $2,000 in relief next week if they’ve been financially impacted by COVID-19. Starting Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17, renters who qualify for assistance can apply here for the Emergency Renters Assistance Program. Those who don’t have internet access can call 844-944-1868.
Information complied from website of US Representative Ted Lieu.