Uupdates on response to the coronavirus by Mayor Garcetti and Los Angeles County agencies

Following are important updates on response to the coronavirus by Mayor Garcetti and Los Angeles County agencies, followed by several links to services

MAYOR'S UPDATES

   State Reopening Guidelines: On Monday, Governor Newsom gave guidance about how counties may take steps forward from the current stay at home orders. The new guidance allows counties and cities to set their own orders based on real-time data of local public health conditions. LA County may have a lower death rate than the national average, but it has suffered more than half of the COVID-19 related deaths in California despite having only about one-quarter of the state’s population. Our timing on opening may differ from other parts of the state; we will follow the guidance of medical professionals. Physical distancing and face coverings will still be a key after opening.

 •   New Testing Sites: This week, we will be opening two additional testing sites at Northridge Fashion Center and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza - our fourth site in the Valley and fifth site in South LA. Drive-thru testing will begin at both locations starting 5/6. Starting 5/6, hours at all of our testing sites will be extended until 5 pm. o        Testing now available for everyone with or without symptoms. Testing is free to the public, sign-up now at coronavirus.lacity.org/testing.

 o        If someone does not have access to the internet or needs assistance, please direct them to call the Mayor's helpdesk: 213-978-1028 or 311 after 5pm.

o        Testing capacity: 18,500 people per day

 o        Total people tested: approx. 194,000!!

 •   Covid-19 Response Equity: Capri Maddox appointed to serve as the City’s Chief of COVID Response Equity. Her mandate is to keep equity as our primary lens at every stage in this response. She’ll work on strategies to help more low-income residents and communities of color access available testing and get medical care when they need it - for COVID-19 symptoms and other life-threatening illnesses. She’ll also work with partners to identify where the impact of the pandemic is unequal and build new strategies to protect people and prevent illness. Capri was recently appointed as Executive Director of the City’s New Civil and Human Rights Department, launching in January 2021.

 •   Project Roomkey: A partnership with our City’s hospitality sector to bring vulnerable people off the streets by renting hotel rooms for vulnerable Angelenos with a focus on Seniors and those with existing health conditions.

o        County secured an additional 505 motel rooms, bringing the total to 2,711 rooms countywide.

 o        The City secured a large hotel in downtown LA, which will deliver more than 360 new rooms, increasing the total to more than 3,000 hotel and motel rooms across the County. Operation of this hotel is expected to bring close to 100 people back to work.

 •   Updates To Vital Services: Changes and upgrades from the City's departments to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

o        Department of Transportation: DOT has expanded the number of intersections where the walk signal will come up automatically, without touching a button to close to 900 intersections and implemented near about 2 dozen hospitals. This upgrade helps reduce the spread of COVID-19 by limiting people from touching a button that may be contagious.

o        Streets LA Streets has doubled the frequency of cleaning at our transit shelters and installed 300 touch-free hand sanitizing dispensers at the highest-use stops throughout every council district in our city.

o        LA Sanitation has cracked down on illegal dumping to keep our sidewalks and streets clean.

   Skilled Nursing Facilities: All skilled nursing facilities in the City are required to hand-deliver written notices to all residents and workers:

o        Must include the last date testing was offered and the next date it will be offered

o        Must be circulated at least once a month and at least 2 days prior to when testing will be provided

 o        Updated notice must be publicly displayed at the main entrance of each facility and provided to anyone in the media, government, or public who asks for it

   Harbor & Watts Bulletin: A compiled list of some resources it relates to coronavirus in CD15 communities. For any additional information, please visit http://coronavirus.lacity.org/, a one-stop-shop for everything coronavirus in the city of LA.

   Spanish Briefing Calls: Thursdays at 2pm. Call in: 1-315-757-0338. PIN: 705 568 630#.

Government Updates

 •   LA County  Board of Supervisors Daily Briefings every day at 1:00pm until further notice. You can watch the County briefing on the County Channel, Facebook, or on local news stations.

 LA COUNTY UPDATES

  Stimulus Payment Information For General Relief Customers

Attention General Relief (GR) customers! Please complete the online IRS Non-Filer tool at www.irs.gov/nonfilereip to receive your federal Economic Impact Payment without any negative impact on your GR or CalFresh benefits. Just a reminder that Stimulus payments will not count against property limits for GR eligibility purposes. If you are experiencing homelessness and do not have a permanent mailing address, you can use a DPSS district office location as your mailing address by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-866-613-3777.

 LA County Cooling Centers

Several public facilities located throughout the County will open and serve as Emergency Cooling Centers on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. These centers provide members of the public who lack air-conditioning at home with relief from the heat, free of charge. All centers will be open from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m, and will operate in compliance with physical distancing and other safety criteria from the current Health Officer Order. To obtain the most current list of the County’s Emergency Cooling Centers or view a map of these sites, visit www.ready.lacounty.gov/heat or dial 2-1-1.

 Helpline Youth Counseling Music of the Heart

 Helpline Youth Counseling will be hosting a special Mother's Day Tribute Concert on Thursday, May 7 from 6:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M. with the musical talents of Steven GB and Tatiana Benitez who is joining from Colombia (flyer attached).

 LA County COVID-19 Testing Sites

 Do you need to schedule a COVID-19 test? Please visit www.covid19.lacounty.gov/testing to schedule a test. There are over 30 locations in LA County, including 15 in the First District. (Flyer attached)

 My Health LA

 Residents of Los Angeles County are able to access medical and mental health care. My Health LA is free to individuals and families who do not have and cannot get health insurance, such as Full-Scope Medi-Cal.

Link to My Health LA flyer

 LA County Disaster Help Center

 The economic toll of COVID-19 is also having a profound impact on so many of our County residents.  Recognizing both the economic hardship and the confusion our communities are facing, we’ve launched the L.A. County Disaster Help Center as an information hub and resource for business owners, nonprofits, landlords and tenants, and workers. This is a collaboration between the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs and the Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services, with support from several others, including disaster services workers from the Library, Treasurer & Tax Collector, Parks and Recreation, and more. If you know anyone who is struggling, please encourage them to visit the Disaster Help Center online, by emailing disasterhelpcenter@lacounty.gov or by calling (833) 238-4450.

 Important links:

 Eviction Moratorium Frequently Asked Questions

 Information about P-EBT

Sanitation Dept/YMCA Locations of Hygiene Facilities at 9 YMCA locations