City Of Hermosa Beach Coronavirus Update For October 2, 2020

Press release from the City of Hermosa Beach:

October 2, 2020

To help keep the community informed, the City of Hermosa Beach is providing regular updates featuring the latest news about COVID-19; related local updates; and how the City is working to meet the needs of the community and protect public health.

Hermosa Beach Playgrounds to Reopen Next Week: The City of Hermosa Beach is moving forward with plans for safely reopening outdoor play structures in City parks. The California Department of Public Health issued protocols for outdoor playgrounds earlier this week and LA County public health issued a revised Health Officer Order Friday that allows for the reopening of playgrounds once protocols are implemented. The City will be working to implement the County’s protocols for signage, sanitizing, and social distancing and expects to be able to reopen playgrounds no later than next Friday, October 9. Playground protocols additionally require everyone over the age of 2 wear face coverings, to sanitize their hands before and after using the play structure, and maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from non-household members. The protocols also prohibit food and drink within the playground to ensure masks are worn at all times and limits play to 30 minutes when others are waiting. When playgrounds do reopen, parents and caregivers are required to supervise their children on the play structures to ensure these protocols are followed.

Hermosa Beach Provides FAQs on its Eviction Moratorium: The City of Hermosa Beach has posted a set of Frequently Asked Questions to help explain the temporary moratorium on evictions adopted by the City Council. The Council recently voted to clarify the temporary moratorium on residential and commercial evictions adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The update ensures the City’s ordinance reflects state law regarding residential evictions and extends the temporary moratorium on commercial evictions. Under the new ordinance, residential tenants have until March 31, 2021 to repay back rent, and commercial tenants have until January 31, 2021 to repay back rent.

L.A. County Library to Add Sidewalk Service at Hermosa Beach Library: The L.A. County Library has announced that it will be expanding sidewalk service to an additional 21 Library locations starting on Tuesday, October 6, including the Hermosa Beach Library. Sidewalk Service will be available Tuesdays through Saturdays and additional information on how to pick up books and other items on hold is available on the Library’s Sidewalk Service webpage. L.A. County Library continues to offer a number of digital books, movies, classes, programming, and other resources through their Digital Library offerings.

L.A. County Sets Dates to Reopen Nail Salons, Cardrooms, Playgrounds and Shopping Malls: L.A. County Department of Public Health announced yesterday that the following sectors will be allowed to reopen once they implement the required protocols issued through the Revised Health Officer Order for infection control and distancing:

• Nail salons could reopen limited indoor services at 25 percent occupancy today.
• Cardrooms may reopen October 5 for outdoor gaming only. Food and beverages may not be served in cardrooms at this time.
• Indoor shopping malls will be allowed to reopen October 7 at 25 percent maximum occupancy; all food courts and all common areas remain closed per the State order.
• Outdoor playgrounds may reopen at the approval and discretion of cities and the L.A. County Parks and Recreation Department. Parents and children (age 2 and older) must always wear a cloth face covering, avoid people not in their household and sanitize hands before and after using playground equipment. There is no eating or drinking allowed at the playground.

L.A. County to Open Waiver Process for Schools: After a motion was approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) announced Tuesday that it will plan to open the school waiver program for in person instruction for grades TK-2. The program will begin accepting applications in early October for 30 schools per week and prioritize the issuance of waivers to schools with higher percentages of students qualified for free/reduced meals. Superintendents must submit school district waiver requests to re-open for approval by the local Health Officer. The decision to grant a waiver will be based on ensuring that schools are able to open in full adherence with the L.A. County school re-opening protocols. The process requires consultation with the California Department of Public Health prior to accepting or rejecting waiver applications. The application process will be available online at publichealth.lacounty.gov and will be launched in early October.

L.A. County Launches COVID-19 Compliance Certification Program: L.A. County is helping train businesses on the implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols through a no-cost online training course called the COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certification Program (CSCCP). Once completed, business owners receive a certificate, and window seal to display on their storefront, which can reassure employees and customers alike that the business is following COVID-19 infection control and physical distancing requirements. Businesses can visit the L.A. County Department of Public Health website to get more information.

L.A. County Hosts Parent/Caregiver COVID-19 Conversation: Journalists and education experts will highlight the impact of COVID-19, racial injustice and educational inequity on parents/caregivers in its next conversation, Parent/Caregiver Engagement, which is scheduled to take place on October 7. This conversation will include considerations and strategies for supporting and engaging parents/caregivers during this highly stressful time. To register, click here.

L.A. County Extends Great Plates Program: Great Plates has delivered 1,361,112 meals since the program launch and has been extended through October 9. L.A. County's meal assistance program offers eligible seniors with three (3) home-delivered meals a day. Seniors over 65, seniors 60-64 years of age who have been diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19 or those at high-risk for COVID-19 may qualify. To learn more or apply, click here.

L.A. County COVID-19 Update: Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 21 new deaths and 1,324 new cases of confirmed COVID-19. To date, Public Health has identified 272,653 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County, and a total of 6,626 deaths.

Latest Facts & Figures*

Jurisdiction - Reported Cases | Reported Deaths

• Hermosa Beach - 217 | 4
• L.A. County - 273,653 | 6,626
• California - 817,277 | 15,986
• United States - 7,331,784 | 208,693

*All reported data is from the close of the previous day.

Additional Resources

Please continue to follow public health experts’ recommendations to avoid spreading the coronavirus including frequent handwashing, wearing a face covering, keeping a safe distance from one another, and staying home if you are ill. Public Health has issued the following guidance during this time of increased spread: If you are mildly sick, stay home for at least seven days or until 72 hours after being fever free, whichever is longer. Call your doctor if you are concerned and/or your symptoms worsen. Individuals who are elderly, have underlying health conditions or pregnant should consider contacting their providers earlier when they are sick. More information is available here.

We are monitoring updates and sharing information about the coronavirus from trusted sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California Department of Public Health, and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Information regarding coronavirus is changing frequently, and the City will provide the latest information about COVID-19 and links to resources on our website. To stay informed, please sign up for Hermosa Beach eNotifications, public safety alerts or follow the City on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This press release was produced by the City of Hermosa Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.