City Hall Scoop

As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge and ICU capacity declines in Los Angeles County and across the Southern California Region, the Los Angeles County Health Officer Order has been modified to align with the State Regional Stay Home Order to prevent crowding and mingling among non-household members and overwhelming our healthcare system.

The Order prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes sector operations, and requires 100% masking and physical distancing. The State Regional Stay at Home Order is similar to the existing County Safer at Home Health Offer with additional sector closings.

The following sectors are required to close or remain closed for all operations: 

• Indoor and outdoor playgrounds
• Indoor recreational facilities
• Hair salons and barbershops
• Personal care services
• Museums, zoos, and aquariums
• Movie theaters
• Wineries
• Bars, breweries, and distilleries
• Family entertainment centers
• Cardrooms and satellite wagering
• Limited services as defined by the state
• Live audience sports
• Amusement parks

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:

• Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays for recreational visits at campgrounds will not be permitted.
• Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
• Shopping centers: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores and all common areas closed. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.
• Hotels and lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.
• Restaurants: Allow only for take-out, pick-up, or delivery.
• Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.
• Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor services only.
• Entertainment production including professional sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

The Order does not modify existing school guidance. Schools that are open under County protocols can continue to provide in-person instruction as permitted.

The following sectors are allowed to remain open with appropriate infectious disease preventative measures including 100% masking and physical distancing:

• Critical infrastructure
• Non-urgent medical and dental care
• Childcare

Everyone in California must adhere to State Health Officer Orders. Counties may be more restrictive than State mandates, but not less restrictive.

The State announced a Regional Stay Home Order will go into effect and would remain in effect for at least three weeks in California regions where ICU capacity falls below 15%. The State advises the Order goes into effect Sunday, December 6 at 11:59 p.m. and remains in effect for at least 3 weeks.

12/7/2020

LA County launched a new COVID-19 home test collection program today, which allows certain County residents to do free testing from the comfort of their own homes.

The home test collection program will run from December 1, 2020 through January 15, 2021. It aims to help address the current surge in demand for testing and reduce the spread of COVID-19 during the holiday season when people may risk exposure. Individuals can have testing kits mailed to their home if they:

• Have COVID-19 symptoms; or
• Were recently in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or is suspected of having it; or
• Are a senior or person with disabilities who feel they were exposed to COVID-19, but are unable to go to a testing site.

“As the surge in cases and hospitalizations continues, LA County is trying innovative ways to meet the testing demand and stem the community spread of the virus,” said Dr. Clemens Hong, who oversees COVID-19 testing for LA County under the Department of Health Services.

“We are doing everything we can to make sure testing is available to all,” Hong said. “This allows us to reach even more people – and they don’t have to risk exposing others by leaving their homes. It’s an important step for combatting the virus in LA County.”

The week before Thanksgiving, almost half a million tests were performed in LA County at over 180 community testing sites, hospitals, clinics, and other facilities. 

The temporary program will use Picture COVID-19, an FDA-approved home collection test developed by Fulgent Genetics, Inc. For information on how to register, individuals should go to the county COVID-19 testing site. If they qualify, Fulgent Genetics will ship a collection kit to their home within two days.

Individuals taking the test at home should follow the directions to collect the sample and take it to a FedEx drop box the same day or have someone take it to a drop box on their behalf. Individuals will receive the results by e-mail within two days. While waiting for the testing kit and the results, individuals should continue following public health guidance on staying home and avoiding contact with others.

The COVID-19 Home Test Collection Pilot launch comes after Thanksgiving weekend, when some may have been exposed to COVID-19 while celebrating or shopping. A modified safer-at-home order took effect Monday, Nov. 30 that advises people to stay at home as much as possible and places new restrictions on gatherings and businesses.

To learn more about COVID-19 testing in LA County, visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.

About DHS

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. Through its integrated system of 27 health centers and four hospitals – and expanded network of community partner clinics – DHS annually provides direct care for over 600,000 unique patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $6 billion. For additional information regarding DHS please visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov.

About Fulgent Genetics

Since March 2020, Fulgent Genetics has commercially launched several tests for the detection of COVID-19. The company has received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the RT-PCR-based tests for COVID-19 detection, including home collection testing.  

12/7/2020

You’re staying home, so the L.A. County Library has created lots of library resources to help your child learn, create, and discover, right where you are! Looking for ways to learn something new or spark your child’s creativity? Check out the Activity Ideas (from arts & crafts to scavenger hunts), DIY Library Programs, and Books & Learning lists (which pair great books with other online resources). The L.A. County Library has so many great activities to keep you and your child learning creatively from the safety and comfort of your home. 

12/7/2020

SoCal ICU capacity is below 15%. Effective Sunday December 6 at 11:59pm, the LA County Health Officer Order will align with the State Regional Stay Home Order to further prevent crowding & mingling among non-household members & overwhelming our healthcare system.

What you need to know:

No gatherings

Personal care, nail salons close

Restaurants throughout the SoCal region will be take-out or delivery only

All retail at 20% capacity

No changes to school operations

Outdoor recreation only with your household (no overnight camping)

Hotel and lodging only for critical infrastructure support

For more info: bit.ly/3ghaJmE

12/7/2020

#LACounty has widespread #COVID19 transmission and someone you know could be asymptomatic and be unknowingly infecting others. We strongly recommend against any gatherings with people outside your household, indoors or outdoors – the risk of infection is dangerously high.

12/4/2020

Please gather only virtually with your friends and family over the holiday.

12/4/2020

#COVID19 is surging in LA County and across the country. You can help slow the spread at your own holiday celebrations by only including members of your immediate household who currently live with you. If you wish to celebrate others this year, please do so remotely.

12/3/2020

The Library will partner with the American Red Cross on a blood drive in the Community Room (1115 El Centro) Tuesday, December 22, 2020. Appointments will be available between 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. Visit redcrossblood.org and search for SOPASLIB to book an appointment today. Blood is desperately needed during the COVID-19 crisis. Thank you to all who have donated or plan to donate again!  

Cathy Billings
Library Director

12/3.20

A #COVID19 test only tells you if you were infected on the day of taking the test and does not prevent #COVID19. Even if you test negative, please do not attend any gatherings with people outside of your household.

12/2/2020

In an effort to assist restaurants affected by the COVID-19 restrictions, Los Angeles County will launch the Keep LA County Dining Grant Program on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 12:00 a.m. 

The Keep LA County Dining Grant will provide $30,000 to use as working capital for employee payroll expenses, capital to continue operations, payment of outstanding business expenses, and adaptive business practices needed to remain open. Preference will be given to restaurants that provided outdoor dining as of November 24, 2020.

For additional program information, please visit keeplacountydining.lacda.org or call (626) 943-3833. Questions regarding the grant program can be sent to keeplacountydining@lacda.org.

12/2/2020