COVID-19 Update
Information compiled from the websites of US Representative Ted Lieu and LA Councilman Paul Koretz
Dear Friends,
Don't be a Super Bowl Super Spreader!
LA County went from fewer than 2,000 cases a day to almost 20,000 after people gathered during Christmas and New Years. That number has dropped dramatically in recent days.
We can continue to knock down the virus, or we can jolt it back to life with thousands of Super Spreader Super Bowl parties across the City.
Our local teams, the Rams and Chargers aren't even in the Super Bowl this year. So are you still dying to attend a big Super Bowl party? You could be.
This year, to be safe, please order your refreshments/treats curbside, takeout, or delivery and hold your Super Bowl party only with members of your own household or host/attend your party online.
The revised Los Angeles County Health Officer Order, issued on Friday, is a detailed blueprint for everyone, businesses, and individuals, to ensure we see a continued downward trend in the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
As new COVID-19 information continues to roll in, the conflicting orders from County, State, and CDC can be very frustrating. Keep reading below for the most up-to-date COVID-19 updates.
Sincerely,
Councilmember Paul Koretz, Fifth District
Public Health's www.VaccinateLACounty.com website connects residents eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations with appointment registration links and much more.
Although vaccines remain very limited, nearly 300 locations are currently vaccinating people in L.A. County, and as more doses become available in the coming months, more sites and providers will administer shots. As appointments become available, residents with internet access are urged to use the website to sign up. For those without access to a computer or the internet or with disabilities, a call center is open to help schedule appointments at 833-540-0473, daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
You are encouraged to visit the LA County Public Health website for the most up-to-date information including Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, and Recovery Dashboard. Additional things you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.
Continue to do your part to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
Cover your mouth and nose with a face covering when around others
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Avoid crowds
Stay at least 6 feet away from others
Avoid poorly ventilated spaces
Wash your hands often
Even after receiving the vaccine, please continue to use preventative measures for the following reasons:
The vaccine is 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 illness. Although this is a high level of protection for a vaccine, it still means that 1 in 20 people who get the vaccine will not be protected.
It’s not known yet how well the vaccine stops the actual virus from being spread. Although getting the vaccine stops the disease from making you feel sick, you might still be able to spread it to others.
It takes up to 2 weeks after the last dose to get the best protection.
Restaurants, breweries, and wineries are now open for outdoor dining. Read the full Reopening Protocol, click here. It is imperative that businesses follow all directives to keep employees and customers safe.
If you see a business not following these directives, you may report it to Environmental Health.
To report a COVID-19 related complaint online, please click here, or you can call the Customer Call Center at (888) 700-9995 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
AVOIDING VACCINE FRAUD AND SCAMS
It’s important to be on the lookout for vaccination scams. Red flags include messages suggesting that vaccination is required by law, ads from unofficial sources on social media, and offers to jump the vaccine line by paying a fee. Remember: no legitimate source will ever try to sell you the vaccine –– online, over the phone, or in person. Unfortunately, seniors are most likely to be targeted by scammers often posing as government officials or Medicare/Insurance companies. If you are contacted by anyone asking for your information, please ignore them. Please remember that no one from Medicare or the Health Department will contact you; and always check with your health care provider before paying for or receiving any COVID-19-related treatment.
In the weeks following holidays and major sporting events, LA County has experienced surges in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. With the Super Bowl this weekend, please cheer for your favorite team from home. We must continue to make cautious choices to protect our community.
The coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis have affected lives and livelihoods across the country. The time for decisive action is now. That is why this week, the House and Senate passed budget resolutions to pave the way for an essential coronavirus rescue plan that will provide direct relief to Americans, support those who’ve become unemployed through no fault of their own, invest in a national COVID-19 vaccination program, and more. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to pass this much-needed relief for my constituents in California’s 33rd District.
VACCINE UPDATES
Governor Newsom and LA County local leaders are responsible for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine in our area. As your Member of Congress, I want to help ensure these leaders have the funding and resources necessary to vaccinate as many CA-33 residents as quickly as possible. Below you will find information on the vaccine from state and local officials. For questions or concerns regarding the distribution of the vaccine, please contact the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom and/or the LA County Department of Public Health.
What phase are we in?
The COVID-19 vaccine will be free for everyone and will be offered to different groups in phases. LA County is actively vaccinating health care workers, staff and residents at skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, and residents 65 and older. If you are eligible, please book an appointment at VaccinateLACounty.com or call (833) 540-0473 from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM 7 days a week. Appointments and doses are limited.
Where can I get the vaccine?
There are nearly 300 locations that are currently vaccinating people in Los Angeles County. As more doses become available, more vaccination sites will open. If you are eligible to receive the vaccine, you can make an appointment at a Public Health Point of Dispensing (POD) site, a LA City Fire Department Pod site (including Dodger stadium), or at select community clinics, hospitals or pharmacies.
How can I get my second dose?
You need two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to get the most protection. Pfizer vaccine doses should be given three weeks (21 days) apart and Moderna vaccine doses should be given four weeks (28 days) apart. How you get your second dose depends on where you got your first one. Please click here to see how you can book your second appointment depending on where you had your first shot. In most cases, you will receive an email or text confirmation to book your appointment time.
If you have difficulty using a computer, you can call the LA Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473 between the hours of 8 AM and 8:30 PM for assistance.
Please remember to bring your white vaccine record card or electronic vaccine record and a photo ID when you go to your second appointment.
STATE AND LOCAL COVID-19 UPDATES
From the State
This week, Governor Newsom announced a pilot partnership with the Biden Administration to stand up two community vaccination sites in East Oakland and East Los Angeles to help communities hit hardest by the pandemic. These new sites are part of a larger effort to establish 100 vaccination sites across the nation within the Biden Administration’s first 100 days. The vaccination centers will be state led and federally supported.
To help support small businesses, the second round of the California Small Business Relief Program is open for applications through February 8th. Small businesses and nonprofits may be eligible to receive grants worth up to $25,000. To get started, please go to CAreliefgrant.com.
From LA County
With outdoor dining reopening in LA County, it’s important to be aware of the risks still associated with dining out.
TESTING
All LA County residents who would like to get tested for COVID-19 should first contact their Primary Care Provider to see if they offer tests. If you cannot access a test through your health care provider, please visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing or corona-virus.la/covid-19-testing to sign up for a no-cost COVID-19 test. Testing is recommended for those who:
Have symptoms related to COVID-19.
Were asked to get tested by LA Public Health because of a contact tracing investigation.
Were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past two weeks.
Work or live in a skilled nursing facility; group home; residential care facility; homeless shelter; or correctional facility.
Are experiencing homelessness.
Are essential workers with frequent contact with the public.
Don’t have symptoms but believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19.
If you live in the City of LA and are unable to drive to a testing site, you can receive a free COVID-19 test at a mobile pop-up location (no appointment necessary). Please click here to view current and upcoming pop-up testing sites.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For updated data on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in California and LA County, please go to update.covid19.ca.gov and publichealth.lacounty.gov.
Sign up to get notified when it’s your turn to receive the vaccine.
CDC’s guidance for coping with stress and anxiety during a pandemic.
If you need someone to talk to, please call the LA County Department of Mental Health hotline at (800) 854-7771 or text “LA” to 741741.
Opt-in to receive notifications if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
If you are in need of food assistance; housing relief; information about COVID-19; and more, please call 2-1-1 or visit 211la.org.
Get your flu shot to stay healthy this season.
Learn about vaccine misinformation and how to avoid vaccine scams.
How COVID-19 vaccines work (CDC).