COVID-19 Updates
Governor Newsom also announced new statewide closures of some indoor business operations, including dine-in restaurants; wineries and tasting rooms; movie theaters, zoos, museums and more. In addition, LA County ordered the closure of gyms, fitness centers, places of worship, personal care service centers and more. To see a full list of what is open and closed in LA County, go to covid19.lacounty.gov/recovery.
The CDC has called on all Americans to wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Studies show that masks are a critical tool in reducing the spread of the virus, especially when everyone wears one. Please do your part in the fight against COVID-19 and wear a mask in public; practice social distancing; and wash your hands frequently.
REMINDERS:
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 If you see something that’s outdated, you can change it by going to lavote.net or calling 800-815-2666.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.
On July 14, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly announced new plans for COVID-19 testing in California, including updated testing guidance, new requirements for health plans to cover testing and new co-chairs of the CA COVID-19 Testing Task Force. To read more about statewide efforts to expand access to testing, go to testing.covid19.ca.gov.
This week, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) announced that the new school year will start online-only instruction on August 18. To better meet the needs of students, teachers and families during online learning, LAUSD is working to ensure students have the tools and technology they need; teachers receive expanded training in online education; and families have access to additional support. Please note that free meals will continue to be provided at the current distribution stations.
The county’s main testing hub page (covid19.lacounty.gov/testing) will continue to provide updated information on testing and direct users to the new platform. Currently, those who are experiencing symptoms; who have come in contact with someone known to have COVID-19; and/or those who are working or living in high-risk environments such as skilled nursing facilities and those experiencing homelessness are prioritized for a test.
Additional Resources
For updated data on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in California and LA County, go to update.covid19.ca.gov and publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/data/index.htm.
CVS and Rite-Aid are now offering COVID-19 tests in LA County. To find a CVS testing location near you, click here. To learn more about new Rite-Aid testing sites, click here.
If you’ve recently tested positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible to participate in a research study. The Westside Medical Associates of Los Angeles, in partnership with the Montreal Heart Institute, is investigating whether a medicine called colchicine is effective as a short-term treatment for COVID-19. To be eligible for the study, you must be diagnosed with definite or probable COVID-19 in the last 36 hours, not hospitalized and 40 years of age or older. You do not need to leave your home to participate. If you meet the criteria and are interested in participating, please call the study hotline at 1-877-536-6837. If you are a patient of Westside Medical Associates of Los Angeles, please call 310-289-5221. For more information, please visit colcorona.net.
If you’d like to expand outdoor dining for your customers, you can apply for a free permit for dining on sidewalks and parking lots, as well as for curbside pick-up and drop off zones here.
When getting gas, please use disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them and use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol after fueling. When you get home, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Please click here for more tips on running essential errands.
The LA County Rent Relief Program is accepting applications from property owners who own 10 or fewer units in unincorporated areas of the First District and have suffered financial loss due to COVID-19. To apply, call (626) 943-3800 or email rentrelief@lacda.org.
The LA County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will NOT remove children from their homes because a parent tests positive for coronavirus. This is a rumor. Removal is a last resort and is only done in instances of abuse or neglect.
The California State Library launched a new portal to publish all state grant and loan opportunities. There are currently more than 100 grants available and over $17 billion in funding.
If you’re looking to help others during this time of need, click here to find a local food bank where you can volunteer.
If you’re receiving tweets or other social media messages from someone saying they work for the Employment Development Department (EDD), please ignore them and report the account here. The EDD will not reach out to you on social media to discuss your claim.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is available for those out of work due to COVID-19 through December 26, 2020. For more information on the PUA program, click here.
If you started an Unemployment Insurance (UI) or PUA claim and stopped certifying because you went back to work, please click here to find out how to reopen your claim if you haven’t exhausted your benefits.
The Pandemic Additional Compensation Program (PAC) created in the CARES Act provided eligible UI, PUA and PEUC claimants an additional $600 per week starting March 29. Reminder: the PAC program ends on July 25.
The Paid Family Leave program in California provides caregivers up to eight weeks of benefits to care for a seriously ill family member, including those with COVID-19. For more on CA Paid Leave, click here.
The EDD and California Department of Human Resources are hosting a 3-part job seeker series to help Californians looking for employment. Register here and check the workshop times below.
The city of Los Angeles launched a new jobs portal, LAJobsPortal.org, to help residents find and apply for job opportunities. Through this portal, you can create a job seeker profile and sign up for job alerts.
Some hand sanitizers that are made in Mexico have been found to contain methanol, which can cause serious health problems such as blindness and even death. Please check your hand sanitizer and if the manufacturer is on the list below, stop using it immediately.
If you need assistance with free food, mental health support and/or rent relief, please call 2-1-1 or go to www.211la.org.
If you have an upcoming court date, please contact the LA County Public Defender’s Office at (833) 699-0262. In many cases, with your permission, the Public Defender can appear for you in court.
LA County is partnering with Google to support local businesses as they transition online. Click here to view free upcoming webinars.
LA County created a Testing Heat Map (slide 11) to show which areas have the highest need for expanded access to testing.here
The Great Plates Delivered Meal Delivery Program has been extended through August 9th. If you are a senior citizen in need of home delivered meals, or if you own a restaurant and are looking to get involved, please click here to apply for the program.
Information compiled from US Representative Ted Lieu’s website.