City Hall Scoop

Myth 1: The vaccine was developed too fast – I don’t think they know enough about it.

The Facts: These vaccines could be made fast and still be safe for three simple reasons.

• There was a lot of research done on the kind of virus that causes COVID-19 before this virus showed up. So scientists had a big head start about the kind of vaccine that would work best to fight this virus.
• A lot of government money was spent to get many companies to work on this vaccine and to put all of their scientists to work on it around the clock. That helped speed everything up.
• While every step that has to be followed to make a new vaccine and be sure it is safe was followed, some of the steps were done at the same time instead of one after another. It is like cooking several parts of a meal at once instead of cooking one course at a time. You get done sooner but it’s just as good.

In fact, the two vaccines that have been approved to protect against COVID-19 were studied on more than 70,000 volunteers, including adults of all ages and different racial and ethnic groups, and were found to work very well and be equally safe for all.

1/11/2021

Contact tracing is a simple, confidential process that has been used by public health departments for decades to slow the spread of infectious diseases and avoid outbreaks. County workers are have been dispatched to serve as Contact Tracers in an effort to stop the surge of the coronavirus.

Click here to learn about how it works and how you can do your part in helping slow the spread by answering a few simple questions when Public Health calls.

1/7/21

The South Pasadena Senior Center is accepting donations of new blankets and notes or letters to be distributed to residents 55 years and older. The Snuggle a Senior program is designed to provide residents with warmth, comfort, and joy this winter. Blankets can be dropped off from January 11 through January 29, 2021, at the South Pasadena Senior Center, located at 1102 Oxley Street, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Blankets will be distributed the week of February 1, 2021. For more information, to confirm a blanket drop off, or to advise City staff if you are, or you know, a local senior in need please call the South Pasadena Senior Center at (626) 403-7360.

1/7/21

Because of the likelihood of exposure to COVID-19 while traveling outside of L.A County, for everyone that traveled or are planning to travel back into L.A. County, you must quarantine for 10 days. If you start to experience any symptoms or have a positive test, isolate for 10 days and until you are fever-free for 24 hours. 

The best way to safely quarantine is to not leave your home or allow any visitors to your home, and to find others who can help you buy groceries and other essential necessities.  If you need help during your self-quarantine, such as finding assistance to help get groceries, there are resources available by calling 2-1-1 or visiting the Public Health website.

1/6/2021

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health supports the wellbeing of our County residents and communities. News and updates about COVID-19 may trigger anxiety, panic, frustration and depression—even when your risk of getting sick is low. During an infectious disease outbreak, please take the time to care for your own physical and mental health, and please reach out to others in kindness and compassion.

LACDMH’s Help Line is available 24/7 to provide mental health support, resources and referrals, just call (800) 854-7771 for assistance. LACDMH is also a part of PsychHub’s COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Hub, which is dedicated to providing free resources to help people address their mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Visit LACDMH’s website to learn more about these and other mental health resources available to you and your community members.

1/6/2020

The Department of Public Health has released a myth busting cheat-sheet for the COVID-19 Vaccine. The document addresses the Top 10 most circulated myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.

Myth 9: Black and Latinx communities are being singled out to get the vaccine because it hasn’t really been proven to be safe.
The Facts: There are certainly historical reasons for Black and Latinx communities to fear being singled out. The concern is justified because people of color and marginalized groups have, in the past, been coerced and subjugated to participating in drug trials and medical procedures without informed consent, patient protections, or ethical practices. That is not the case here, however. Black and Latinx communities have not been singled out to get the vaccine. But groups are being offered the vaccine based on the risks faced by the people in the group. So, the answer is NO to singling anyone out but YES, Black and Latinx communities could be offered the vaccines earlier than other communities where infection, hospitalization and
death rates have not been as high.

To view the complete COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation guide, click here. 

1/5/21

Through Tutor.com the Library offers live help for students aged kindergarten to adult, in subjects like math, science, English, social studies, essay writing, resume writing, job hunting, and more! Tutor.com is generously supported by the Friends of the South Pasadena Library and is free with your South Pasadena Public Library card. Connect with a tutor within minutes with voice or text communication: live tutors are available from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. in English and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Spanish (La ayuda en vivo individual está disponible de Domingo a Jueves de 3:00pm hasta 7:00pm PST). To access additional services, such as math problem and essay review drop-off and practice quizzes, create a free account. Get started at www.southpasadenaca.gov/tutor.com.

Cathy Billings
Library Director

1/4/21

The Department of Public Health (DPH) has asked everyone to avoid large holiday gatherings and simply get together with just your immediate household. However, in spite of our pleas, we know many people living in Los Angeles County have or are traveling out of the area for Christmas.Those who left LA last Wednesday and returned yesterday, may have had an exposure at any point over the past 5 days. That virus can take up to 14 days to incubate in the body, and for many people the virus causes no illness or symptoms.  If you go back to work, go shopping or go to any gatherings at any point over the next 10 days, you could easily pass on the virus to others. We ask that you not be a virus spreader; we can’t afford for you to pass on the risk and the virus.

The options in front of us require that everyone takes responsibility to bring this surge under control and help prevent more deaths. One important group that needs to take actions to protect others are those returning to LA County from holiday travel. We ask each and every person coming into LA County from outside our region to self-quarantine for 10 days and monitor for any symptoms of illness for 14 days. 

For more information on how to quarantine at home, click here.

1/4/21

Governor Newsom announced that the State imposed Stay at Home Order has been extended. Public Health also extended the Temporary Health Officer Order, which will remain in effect for as long as the State Public Health Officer’s Regional Stay At Home remains in effect in the Southern California region.  Please adhere to Public Health guidelines to stay home. Stay safe and do everything you can to protect your loved ones and your neighbors.  

“2020 has been an extremely difficult year, that goes without saying. As the year comes to an end, we know you want to celebrate. Please don’t go out for New Year’s Eve. Don’t celebrate with people outside your household. We have to get this surge under control. If we don’t, the beginning of 2021 will be even worse than the end of 2020.” – Dr. Christina Ghaly, MD, Director, Department of Health Services

1/4/21

Please stay at home as much as possible, but if you are outside your home, wear a face covering at all times.

12/31/2020