Congressman Ted Lieu - Coronavirus Reminders + Heroes Act + More

Press release from the Venice Chamber of Commerce:

October 02, 2020

The coronavirus continues to impact the lives and livelihoods of those in our community and around the world. My wife Betty and I are praying for the President and First Lady, and wish them a speedy recovery. This is a sobering reminder that COVID-19 can impact anyone. You can play a role in stopping the spread of COVID-19 by washing your hands frequently; practicing social distancing; and wearing a mask in public. By taking these actions, you are helping to save lives.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed an updated version of the Heroes Act to address the growing health and economic needs of the American people as the coronavirus pandemic continues. The bill includes new provisions to support small businesses; provide additional assistance for families; and allocate more funds to bolster education and childcare. It also maintains key priorities set forth in the original Heroes Act that passed the House in May to honor our frontline workers; support COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment; provide economic support in the form of direct payments to Americans; and restore unemployment benefits, among other items. My hope is that Republicans in the Senate will accept this proposal to provide relief to millions of Americans who are suffering greatly because of this pandemic.

It is not too late to fill out the 2020 Census. A full and fair Census count will help our community receive the funding it needs to benefit local schools, hospitals, emergency management systems and more. If you have not done so already, please head to My2020Census.gov and respond now – especially if you reside in the yellow or orange areas below. Please also encourage your friends and neighbors to respond. By doing so, you’ll be a part of creating a brighter future for our community for the next 10 years.

Your weekly reminder:

1. Please remember to get your flu shot to stay healthy this season. It is likely that both COVID-19 and the flu will be present at the same time in LA County this year. You can get a flu shot at any local pharmacy. For quick flu facts and frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and the flu, click here.
2. Every registered voter in California will receive a mail-in ballot in time for the November election. You can return your ballot by mail, in person at any Vote by Mail drop box location, or at any Vote Center in LA County. For more information on how to safely vote in the upcoming election, please go to sos.ca.gov/elections and lavote.net. To sign up to be a poll worker in your community, please go to powerthepolls.org.
3. If you tested positive for COVID-19, you should expect a call or text from a county public health specialist as part of an effort to contact trace and contain the spread of the virus. They are not law enforcement officers and will not ask about immigration status. If you tested positive for COVID-19 and have not yet heard from a contact tracer, please call 1-833-540-0473. LA County and City leaders recently announced a partnership with SafePass, a mobile app to help expand local efforts to contract trace and contain the spread of COVID-19. The app will allow users to self-report their symptoms, track any close contacts with other users and alert them of any potential exposure. All contact tracing data is completely confidential and private to the user. For more information on the app and to download your SafePass, please go to citizen.com/safepass.
4. Have you witnessed fraud, waste, or abuse of coronavirus pandemic relief funds? Congress has approved over $3 trillion in federal spending to combat the pandemic and I am committed to ensuring your tax dollars are being spent properly. I encourage you to visit coronavirus.house.gov/contact/tip-line or call 202-225-4400 today to report waste, fraud, or abuse of COVID-19 funds.

COVID-19 Updates

From LA County

Due to the current stabilization of COVID-19 numbers in LA County, the Board of Supervisors approved several recommendations for the staggered reopening of some sectors of the economy permitted by the state for counties in Tier 1 of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Starting September 30th and over the next 8 days, nail salons, cardrooms, indoor shopping malls and outdoor playgrounds will be allowed to reopen once they implement the required protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19. The re-openings will occur with restrictions in place. Nail salons and indoor shopping centers may only reopen at 25 percent capacity; cardrooms may reopen for outdoor gaming only; and outdoor playgrounds can only reopen with the approval of cities and the County Parks and Recreation Department. For specific information on the re-opening protocols, click here. The dates for each sector’s re-opening are below.

In addition, the LA County Department of Public Health will reopen the school waiver program for in-person instruction for grades TK-2 next week. The program will be limited to 30 schools a week and will prioritize schools with more students who qualify for free or reduced meals. To learn more about the school waiver process, click here.

This press release was produced by the Venice Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed are the author's own.