RHE COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update:
Important update for all City email subscribers
April 23, 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.

April 23, 2020 Citywide Update
Alert SouthBay PSA Safer at Home
During this unprecedented time in all our lives, our Alert SouthBay cities are appreciative of everyone’s collective efforts to help slow the spread of COVID-19. We are deeply humbled by the acts of human kindness our communities have shown towards each other. And while we have flattened the curve, we need to remain vigilant as to not create a second wave of infections. 
 
Thank you SouthBay!
A Message to Residents and Visitors
While playground equipment, sports courts (including tennis courts), and hiking trails are temporarily closed, horse arenas, bridle trails, pedestrian pathways and parks remain open. Please remember that group gatherings, organized activities, lessons and training at City facilities are not allowed during the duration of the “Safer at Home” Order. 
 
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 but not a substitute for maintaining the physical distancing requirements.
 
While the City understands the desire to spend time outdoors in order to maintain physical and mental health, there are safe and responsible ways to do so. We have several ideas and resources available to you on our website www.RHE.city/COVID19   or   www.RHE.city/virtualrec . 
 
If you have concerns that social/physical distancing requirements are not being followed at City parks, trails, arenas or other facilities, please call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department - Lomita Station's non-emergency line at (310) 539-1661. 
 
Standing Apart is Standing Together - and Together we can bend the curve! #RHEresilient
Janice Journal Live to Return Weekly
Last Friday LA County Supervisor Hahn held her first "Janice Journal Live" on Facebook.

Due to the large turnout she will return to do a video weekly and provide updates on the latest County response to COVID-19 as well as what we are doing to help families and individuals who are struggling with issues like paying rent, getting food, and more.

In order to help answer as many of your questions as possible, Supervisor Hahn is asking that participants submit questions ahead of time by emailing  JaniceJournalLive@gmail.com .

You can watch this week's livestream on Friday morning at 11 a.m. on  her Facebook page . Questions will be answered at the end.
Community Advisory: Please Slow Down
The City would like to remind all of our residents and visitors to  slow down. The speed limit in residential neighborhoods is 25 mph.  

Please keep in mind that under the Safer at Home Order, the closure of schools and many individuals working from home, families, individuals and children are taking this time to walk around their neighborhoods and children may be at play in their front yards. 

Please keep this in mind when driving and show extra precaution.
Childcare for Essential Workers
Discovery World is offering childcare and early education for essential workers. Hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. For more, visit www.discoveryworldschools.com or call (310) 265-6650 for enrollment.
Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control Waives Adoption Fees for All Animals
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) is currently waiving adoption fees at all seven animal care centers in an effort to quickly place animals in homes during the COVID-19 crisis. The fee waived adoptions are possible thanks to an $80,000 grant DACC was awarded from the Petco Foundation to support life-saving efforts for Los Angeles County animals.  
In addition to the fee waived adoptions, the Petco Foundation investment will enable DACC to undertake a variety of other lifesaving measures including purchasing necessary medical equipment and partnering with veterinary partners to provide pets in DACC care extensive medical treatment beyond the regular capacity of our medical program.

”We are grateful for the Petco Foundation’s generous support to help animals during the COVID-19 crisis,” said DACC Director Marcia Mayeda. “Because people are adhering to the Safer at Home requirements, many can devote time to a new pet. This generous grant from Petco Foundation makes it easier for families to make that decision at this time.” Those in LA County wishing to adopt must first make an appointment to visit their local care center by going to  www.animalcare.lacounty.gov .  

B-ROLL AVAILABLE HERE (credit LA County):  vimeo.com/409097274/ec88b4319c 
COVID-19 Testing
Drive-up mobile COVID-19 testing is available to all LA County residents with symptoms. Testing is free and no insurance required.

Here is what you need to bring with you:

  • Photo ID 
  • Confirmation number from the website

Make your appointment here: https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs

The nearest locations for County organized testing for Peninsula/South Bay residents is at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center 1000 W. Carson St., Torrance, CA 90502.

Additionally, Palos Verdes Medical Group and Exer Urgent Care will be offering COVID-19 testing patients and community members.

If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or think you may have been exposed, please call Palos Verdes Medical Group at  310-544-6858  or Exer Urgent Care at 424-323-3500 to schedule a Telehealth visit.
Physical Distancing
This past weekend saw the highest number of daily reported deaths in LA County, and nearly a doubling of the total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19. While distancing fatigue is being felt far and wide, the County of Los Angeles reminds its residents:

Cloth face coverings can help slow the spread, but are not substitutes for...   
 
     ... staying at home;
     ... washing hands frequently;
     ... and physical distancing.

And when you do have to head for the great outdoors - whether its to purchase essential goods or to maintain your well-being with a walk around the block - keep your distance & don't forget your cloth face covering.

ICYMI: "One World: Together At Home," a global broadcast benefiting frontline healthcare workers and the World Health Organization (WHO), aired over the weekend. If you missed it, you can now take in its musical performances, tributes, and celebrity appearances  online  - and from home.
LASD: Dependent Adult and Senior Citizen Welfare Checks
During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and as the Safer at Home Health Officer Order remains in effect, the community has raised concerns regarding the need to protect our vulnerable senior and dependent adult population. 

Among these concerns are the vulnerable being infected by COVID-19, but also a rise in elder and dependent adult abuse as a result of limited resources during this health emergency. 

A majority of the dependent adult and senior citizen population are currently isolated in assisted living/convalescent facilities, senior centers, or senior living communities without visitation from family or friends, and may have had health needs overlooked by a health care worker, a caretaker, or themselves. In an attempt to contact those who are vulnerable and may need help, LASD is conducting patrol checks and performing additional community outreach activities.

These include:
 
  • Unit commanders will identifying all senior living communities, senior centers, dependent adult and assisted living/convalescent facilities within their station jurisdiction and generate a list to provide the facility names and locations; 
  • Assigning station patrol personnel to conduct directed patrol checks, based on the list of identified facilities etc.

For more, View the Full Notice.
#RHEresilient Weekly Activity: Virtual Earth Day
#EarthDay Art Challenge: Create a unique art sculpture using only trash/recycled products found in your home. Can you make a cereal box robot, egg carton turtle or bottle boat from your trash treasure? Tag us @CityofRHE & share what you come up with! Need ideas?

We Want to Hear from You
Our communities are all facing challenges during this unprecedented time in our lives. As we strive to help support our communities, your feedback is incredibly valuable in helping address your concerns.

Thank you for taking the time to provide your comments for our first survey. The results of that survey are in and we were able to gather some useful information around resident sentiment during this COVID-19 crisis.

Please answer our second brief survey to help us understand your specific concerns and how we can support you being Safer at Home.

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.
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.
Local Plasma Donation Needed
A Torrance Fire Engineer is in need of a plasma donation to help him fight his COVID-19 illness. Specifically, he needs plasma donated from a fully recovered COVID-19 patient so their antibodies may help boost his ability to fight back.
Please see the below requirements. If you think you or someone you know fits the criteria, please contact Dr. Marc Cohen at  emsdoc911@hotmail.comor use the below url link to contact the American Red Cross:

Time is of the essence. Even if you aren’t a match, you could be for another patient who needs this therapy.

To qualify as a plasma donor, you must:

Have had COVID as confirmed by a positive test.

Already be recovered and have one of the following:

  • your symptoms resolved at least 28 days prior to donation OR
  • your symptoms resolved 14 days prior to donation AND a repeat COVID test is negative

Be one of the following:

  • Male donor
  • Female donor who has never been pregnant
  • Female donor who has been tested since their most recent pregnancy and results interpreted as negative for HLA antibodies.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Update
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 68 new deaths and 1,081 new cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Fifty-one people who died were over the age of 65; 11 people who died were between the ages of 41 to 65 years old, and three people who died were between the ages of 18 to 40 years old. Fifty- one people had underlying health conditions including 40 people over the age of 65, nine people between the ages of 41 to 65 years old and two people between the ages of 18 to 40 years old. Three deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach. 

To date, Public Health has identified 17,508 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 797 deaths. Eighty-nine percent of people who died had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 716 people (96 percent of the cases); 37% of deaths occurred among Latinx residents, 28% among White residents, 18% among Asian residents, 15% among African American residents, and 2% among residents identifying with other races. Upon further investigation, eight cases reported earlier were not LA County residents. As of today, 4,053 people who tested positive for COVID-19 (24% 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 almost 99,000 individuals and 14% of people testing positive.

Please note: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health report now includes cases by cities. As of April 23, 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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