RHE COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update:
Important update for all City email subscribers
May 8, 2020
The City of Rolling Hills Estates is actively monitoring and listening to the health and policy experts at the federal, state and county levels and taking actions to adhere to requirements or implement policies based upon health expert recommendations.  This important email update is being sent to all City email subscribers to ensure the community is notified.

For important information, please   visit the City’s Coronavirus webpage.

May 8, 2020 Citywide Update
Los Angeles County Public Health Reopening Guidance

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is calling on the public, all business owners and community organizations to support the reopening of businesses and public spaces in safe ways while considering all necessary precautions. A staged approach has been adopted, supported by science and public health expertise, to allow certain retail businesses and public spaces to open safely reopen. A gradual approach is necessary to safely navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to slowly taper restrictions so we can avoid a surge of new COVID-19 cases that could overwhelm our healthcare and other systems. This strategy will will be driven by data and public health criteria.  Visit LA County COVID-19 Recovery Site here.

As a result, a limited number of businesses are able to open effective today, May 8 (See Addendum to Order here) with appropriate safeguards in place:

Retail
Florists, Toy Stores, Book Stores, Clothing/Shoe Stores, Music Stores, and Sporting Goods Stores
  • Curbside pick-up only
  • Must adhere to physical distancing and infection control protocols

The requirements below are specific to retail establishments permitted to reopen for curbside pick-up. In addition to the condition imposed on these specific retail businesses by the Governor, these types of businesses must also be in compliance with the conditions laid out in this Checklist for Retail Establishments Opening for Curbside Pickup. Included in this list of businesses are: florists and toy, book, clothing, music and sporting goods stores.

Retail Reopening Protocol [PDF]

Golf Courses
  • Pro shops closed
  • Concession stands and restaurants are take-out only
  • Must adhere to physical distancing and infection control protocols

The following issues are critical and must be addressed to ensure that workers and consumers reduce the risk of spread at golf courses: (1) Protecting and supporting employee and customer health (2) Ensuring appropriate physical distancing (3) Ensuring proper infection control (4) Communicating with the public (5) Ensuring equitable access to services These critical areas have been incorporated into the checklist below and must be implemented as required golf course reopening protocols.


Trails
  • Must adhere to physical distancing
  • Must use cloth face covering

The County of Los Angeles is permitting the reopening public trails and trailheads to allow residents increased outdoor recreation options. Please note that not all hiking trails on the Palos Verdes Peninsula may not be open at this time - please check with the respective cities before visiting. Staying physically active is one of the best ways to keep your mind and body healthy. Using recreational and multi-use trails can be an important way to relieve stress, get some fresh air and vitamin D, stay active, and safely connect with nature. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucially important that you follow the DO’s and DON’Ts below in order to use public trails in a way that keeps you and others healthy.

Outdoor Recreation in Rolling Hills Estates
Effective Saturday, May 9, 2020,  City hiking trails at George F Canyon and Chandler Preserve will be open. All individuals accessing these hiking trails must adhere to 6' physical distancing requirements and must use cloth face coverings. Please note that other hiking trails on the Palos Verdes Peninsula may not be open at this time.

Playground equipment, sports courts (including tennis courts) remain closed until further notice by Los Angeles County Public Health guidance. Horse arenas, bridle trails, pedestrian pathways and parks remain open for passive recreation use only . Please remember that group gatherings, organized activities, lessons and training at City facilities are not currently permitted until further notice. 

As you spend time outdoors, it is important to utilize parks and open space while adhering to the 6-feet physical distancing requirement at all times. When outside for recreation purposes, face coverings are optional (except as required for hiking trails), but not a substitute for maintaining the physical distancing requirements.

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For after hours immediate contact, please contact the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department - Lomita Station  (310) 539-1661 . 911 for Emergency Situations.
How To Stay Safe and Healthy
Help stop the spread of COVID-19 by following tips for staying safe and healthy:

1. Follow the  Safer At Home  health order - and make these your new "House Rules":

  • Wash hands throughout the day.
  • Wear face coverings whenever you have to leave home.
  • Stay six feet away from people who don’t live with you.
  • Connect with friends and family by phone or video-chat apps.

2. Get tested. Testing sites throughout LA County are safe, free, and do not require proof of medical insurance.
If you:

  • Have COVID-19 symptoms (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell)
  • Are essential workers regardless of symptoms (including: health care workers, first responders, social service employees, utility workers, food supply workers, and other public employees)
  • Are asymptomatic and are 65 years old or have chronic underlying health conditions
  • Are in institutional congregate living settings (including: skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, and correctional institutions)

Make an appointment at the website  covid19.lacounty.gov/testing  or dial 2-1-1 to find a neighborhood testing site near you. You must have an appointment for a test, but there are many time slots available—including same-day, or next-day appointments. 

3. Stay healthy!  Please remember our hospitals are safe. Don't delay necessary medical treatment:

  • If you have symptoms, see a doctor immediately. LA County residents without health insurance, who are low-income (and 26 years or older) or are undocumented immigrants, may qualify for My Health LA, a free health care program with a network of more than 200 community clinics in LA County. Call 844-744-6452 for information on how to enroll. You can also dial 2-1-1 to find a neighborhood clinic near you.
  • Immunizations. Keep up with childhood immunizations for preventable diseases like hepatitis B, chickenpox, measles, mumps, and whooping cough. LA County doctors and healthcare providers are taking steps to make sure their clinics and offices are safe spaces where families can bring their children in for their immunizations. Teens and adults should continue with routine immunizations, too!

For the latest on how to stay safe, visit  covid19.lacounty.gov  or dial 2-1-1 for more assistance.
Warmer Temperatures Projected Over Weekend
High temperatures have been forecast for many areas throughout LA County this weekend. As the Safer at Home Order remains in effect, the Department of Public Health reminds everyone that precautions should be taken to avoid heat-related illness, especially by older adults, young children, outdoor workers, athletes, and people with a chronic medical condition, among others, who are especially sensitive to negative health impacts from extreme heat.
Public Health offers the following recommendations during high temperatures:

  • Drink plenty of water and keep hydrated throughout the day.
  • If you must go out, plan your day to avoid going out during the hottest hours, and wear sunscreen. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothes, and bring a hat or umbrella with you.
  • Cars get very hot. Don't leave children or pets in cars, and call 911 if you see a child or pet in a car alone.
  • Beware of heat-related illness, like heat stroke and call 911 if you see these symptoms: high body temperature, vomiting, and pale and clammy skin.
  • Check on those at risk, like the sick, older adults, pregnant women, and children.
  • Avoid working out wearing face coverings or masks not intended for athletic purposes; this means avoiding contact with others while you work out.
You Can Help: Donate Blood
If you are healthy & have not been exposed to Coronavirus or someone who may have it, PLEASE consider giving blood with the Red Cross. Enhanced safety protocols are in place to ensure the safety of donors & staff in response to the concern.

To schedule an appointment to donate, visit:  http://rcblood.org/2TzQeaY

"We understand people may be hesitant to come give blood, but we want to reassure everyone on the precautions our teams are taking to keep you safe."- Red Cross

  • Is it safe to give right now?

Donating is a safe process and health individuals should schedule a blood or platelet donation to help maintain the nation's blood supply.

  • Safety at Blood Drives

Red Cross employees implemented added precautions to ensure blood drives and donation centers are safe for donors and staff, including: Using sterile collection sets, spacing beds and feet apart where possible, having hand sanitizer available, using aseptic scrubs on arms, donor and staff temperature checks before entering drives, wiping down donor-touched areas.

  • What if a donor becomes sick after donating?

Red Cross provides a call back number donors should call if they become sick with any illness days after their donation.
Are you a senior or disabled Rolling Hills Estates resident in need of assistance?

Let us know.... please call City Hall at (310) 377-1577 during regular business hours, Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. We are here to help.
PVLD Senior Resources

The Palos Verdes Library District has developed many resources for seniors, including getting started with tech, frequently asked reference questions, eBooklists and more! Check it out at pvld.org/seniors
Governor Newsom's Updated Industry Guidance   

Following up on the state’s announcement that it will begin modifying the stay at home order today, Friday, May 8, Governor Gavin Newsom has released updated industry guidance – including for retail, manufacturing and logistics – to begin reopening with modifications that reduce risk and establish a safer environment for workers and customers.
Read the new guidance at: https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap/  
Resilience Roadmap
Californians are flattening the curve as part of the stay at home order issued on March 19, 2020. These efforts have allowed the state to move forward on the roadmap for modifying the statewide order. The Resilience Roadmap stages that California is using to guide its gradual reopening process are:

  • Stage 1: Safety and Preparedness 
  • Stage 2: Lower-Risk Workplaces 
  • Stage 3: Higher-Risk Workplaces 
  • Stage 4: End of Stay at Home Order

When modifications are advanced and the state’s   six indicators   show we’ve made enough progress, we can move to the next stage of the roadmap. We are now moving into Stage 2, where some lower-risk workplaces can gradually open with adaptations. Stage 2 expansion will be phased in gradually. Some communities may move through Stage 2 faster if they are able to show greater progress, and counties that have met the readiness criteria and worked with the California Department of Public Health can open more workplaces as outlined in the County Variance Guidance .
 
Industry Guidance to Reduce the Risk  
California will move into Stage 2 of modifying the state’s stay at home order on May 8, 2020. The state’s progress in achieving key  public health metrics   will allow a gradual reopening of California’s economy. 
The state recognizes the impact of economic hardship, but the risk of COVID-19 infection is still real for all Californians and continues to be fatal. 
That is why every business should take every step possible to reduce the risk of infection:

  • Plan and prepare for reopening 
  • Make radical changes within the workplace 
  • Adjust practices by employees and help educate customers

The state has outlined guidance for each early Stage 2 business to follow. The goal is a safer environment for workers and customers. Businesses may use effective alternative or innovative methods to build upon the guidance.
Each business should review the guidance that is relevant to their workplace, prepare a plan based on the guidance for their industry, and put it into action. 
When complete, businesses can post the industry-specific checklist (below) in their workplace to show customers and employees that they’ve reduced the risk and are open for business.
Before reopening, all facilities should: 
  1. Perform a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan 
  2. Train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them 
  3. Implement individual control measures and screenings 
  4. Implement disinfecting protocols 
  5. Implement physical distancing guidance

The state has also set up a mechanism to gather input on future industry guidance through the California Recovery Roadmap survey .
While many elements of the guidance are the same across industries – such as cleaning and physical distancing – consideration was given to industry-specific methods. For example:
  • Retailers should increase pickup and delivery service options and encourage physical distancing during pickup – like loading items directly into a customer’s trunk or leaving items at their door. 
  • Retailers should install hands-free devices, if possible, including motion sensor lights, contactless payment systems, automatic soap and paper towel dispensers, and timecard systems. 
  • Manufacturing companies should close breakrooms, use barriers, or increase distance between tables/chairs to separate workers and discourage congregating during breaks. Where possible, create outdoor break areas with shade covers and seating that ensures physical distancing. 
  • Warehouses should minimize transaction time between warehouse employees and transportation personnel. Perform gate check-ins and paperwork digitally if feasible. 
  • Warehouse workers should clean delivery vehicles and equipment before and after delivery, carry additional sanitation materials during deliveries, and use clean personal protective equipment for each delivery stop.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Update
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 51 new deaths and 883 new cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Thirty-nine people who died were over the age of 65 years old, eight people who died were between the ages of 41 to 65 years old, and two people who died were between the ages of 18 and 40 years old. Forty-three people had underlying health conditions including 36 people over the age of 65 years old, six people between the ages of 41 to 65 years old and one person between the ages of 18 and 40 years old. Two deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach.
 
To date, Public Health has identified 30,296 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 1,468 deaths. Ninety-two percent of people who died had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 1,352 people (99 percent of the cases); 39% of deaths occurred among Latinx residents, 29% among White residents, 18% among Asian residents, 12% among African American residents, 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races. African Americans, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and people living in communities with high levels of poverty continue to have the highest rate of death per 100,000 people for COVID-19 when compared to other groups. Upon further investigation, 14 cases and one death reported earlier were not LA County residents. As of today, 5,298 people who tested positive for COVID-19 (19% of positive cases) have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. Testing capacity continues to increase in LA County, with testing results available for nearly 215,000 individuals and 12% of people testing positive.

Pleas e note: As of May 8, 2020, the City of Rolling Hills Estates has thirteen (13) confirmed cases.

More Information and Resources Available
COVID-19 Updates
Residents and businesses can continue to monitor the City's dedicated COVID-19 Updates webpage, which has been newly redesigned for ease-of-use and increased resource information at RHE.city/Covid19 .

Here you will find latest updates, information for seniors and businesses, information on utilities, current status of local restaurants, etc.

The City is working diligently to identify additional resources for the community, especially for our high risk seniors.
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