We are deeply grateful to all residents and businesses who wear face coverings. Please continue to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbors from COVID-19.
2. What Do Face Coverings Do?
Before we talk about the power of a face covering, we should start by mentioning what we've learned about COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. We know that COVID-19 mainly spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets (produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, sings, or raises their voice). These droplets can land in the eyes, mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
We've also learned that MANY people who are infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic (have no symptoms). We can’t tell, by just looking at them, whether they’re infected or not.
A face covering, as seen in the above graphic, limits the spread of respiratory droplets from every person wearing a face covering that fits snugly over their mouth AND nose. The simple piece of fabric stops many of your respiratory droplets from reaching those around you.
Because we have no way of knowing if we (or those around us) are infected with COVID-19, the best strategy is to ALWAYS wear a face covering when around people who aren't part of your household, and to ask that those around you to wear a face covering as well.
Face coverings can feel uncomfortable, but they really do protect us all. And while we look forward to a time when we don't have to wear them—we're not there yet.
Don't forget: 1) Masks should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance; 2) Masks with exhalation valves (or vents) should NOT be worn to help prevent the person wearing the mask from spreading COVID-19 to others; and 3) Adhere to the modifications and restrictions that are working to get us back to slowing the spread again.
3. LA County COVID-19 Rent Relief to Launch August 17, 2020
In an effort to assist renters with limited means affected by the COVID-19 crisis, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has provided $100 million in CARES Act funds to create a COVID-19 Rent Relief program, operated by the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA). The program is set to launch on Monday, August 17, 2020, and will remain open for a two-week period, closing on August 31, 2020. The program’s goal is to assist between 8,000 to over 9,000 households.
The emergency rental assistance provided is intended to meet the needs of low-income renters who have struggled to pay their rent and/or who are behind on paying rent due to the economic impacts caused by the pandemic. Those who are most at need will be targeted with more assistance.
The program is available to all residents of the County who qualify, with the exception of residents living in the City of Los Angeles, as LA City also received its own allocation of CARES Act funds. A W-9 and participation agreement are needed from the property owners to receive rental income on behalf of their qualified tenant; property owners must agree to the terms of the participation agreement. Citizenship documentation will not be requested from any party (renter or property owner).
A list of Frequently Asked Questions with more program detail is available on the LACDA website.
4. Culver City COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Culver City renters facing financial hardships due to COVID-19 may be eligible to receive temporary rental assistance. The Community Development Department’s Housing Division will offer 12-month rental assistance or 3-month rental catch-up to residents who meet the income and COVID-19 impact qualifications. Eligible applications will be selected by lottery.
Applicants who are unable to apply online must request a paper application, which will be available ONLY on Monday, August 24, 2020 by calling (310) 253-5780 or emailing housing@culvercity.org. Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed no later than Monday, August 31, 2020 at 4:30 PM to:
Culver City Community Development Department, Housing Division
9770 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Paper applications may also be submitted by August 31, 2020 by 4:30 PM to the Housing Division drop box located on the second floor of Culver City Hall at the above address.
Applicants do not need to be a U.S. citizen to apply for this program. To be eligible, applicants must:
Be a renter within the Culver City boundaries (i.e., zip codes 90230, 90232 or 90066).
Provide a current lease or rental agreement, documentation or statements from the property owner.
Meet extremely low, very low, or low-income limits. Applicants will be required to provide documentation of all household members and household income.
Be economically affected by COVID-19 (e.g., job loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19). Applicants must provide documentation of the inability to pay rent due to COVID-19 related matters and expenses (e.g., medical or childcare).
Only submit one application per household, address or social security number.
As students, families, educators and childcare providers navigate the beginning of a new school year, LA County and Culver City recognize that extended childcare programs for school-aged children are an essential piece of the puzzle for working parents. These programs provide essential enrichment activities, and help children stay healthy while socializing with their peers in the periods before and after school.
To help get virtual learning started on the right foot, LA County's Department of Public Health (DPH) developed protocols for early childhood education, childcare programs for school-aged children, and day camps. Protocols issued earlier this week include the following highlights:
Childcare centers may now have more students per class (increased from 10 to 12)
Childcare programs can now offer physical activity & academic enrichment activities before, during and after the normal school day.
Extended daycare programs will now have to follow similar rules as childcare & day camps:
staff and students are required to maintain a safe physical distance;
wear cloth face coverings while they are together; and
staff and students will be screened before the start of activities each day, and will need to take detailed actions if anyone in the program develops COVID-19 symptoms.
LA County continues to urge residents to wear masks, socially distance from people you don't live with, and wash hands regularly, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. In-person learning for students in TK-12 cannot take place until LA County's case rate drops to 200 cases per 100,000 population, per State guidance.
6. Make Sure You Connect with Public Health if You Test Positive for COVID-19
If you receive a positive test result, Public Health may reach out to you by phone or text. Any information collected by public health workers is confidential. Contact tracers will never ask for your social security number or financial information. Given the past State electronic laboratory system delays, Public Health urges any person with a positive lab result to call 1-833-540-0473 to connect with a public health specialist who can provide information about services and support. Residents who do not have COVID-19 should continue to call 211 for resources or more information.
7. Cooling Centers
High temperatures are in the forecast for many areas throughout LA County this weekend. Public Health offers the following recommendations during high temperatures:
Drink plenty of water and keep hydrated throughout the day.
If you must go out, plan your day to avoid going out during the hottest hours, and wear sunscreen. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothes, and bring a hat or umbrella with you.
Cars get very hot. Don't leave children or pets in cars, and dial 9-1-1 if you see a child or pet in a car alone.
Beware of heat-related illness, like heat stroke and dial 9-1-1 if you see these symptoms: high body temperature, vomiting, and pale and clammy skin.
Check on those at risk, like the sick, older adults, pregnant women, and children.
Avoid working out wearing face coverings or masks not intended for athletic purposes; this means avoiding contact with others while you work out.
When available, a listing of open cooling centers will be listed on the County’s online interactive map.
Centers are free of charge and intended for people who urgently need relief from the heat
All visitors should bring with them and wear a face covering at all times
8. COVID-19 Testing
If you think you need a test, the County encourages you to call your doctor first. Testing is best done by a healthcare provider, so that they can monitor your care. If you do not have a doctor or are unable to contact them, dial 2-1-1 for a referral to a provider. Other private COVID-19 testing may be available. Find a community testing site near you (e.g., Rite Aid, UCLA Health, UrgentMED, Exer Urgent Care, Quest) with theCalifornia for ALL Testing Tool.
Testing priority at County and LA City sites is given to those in the following groups:
People with the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
People working or living in places such as skilled nursing facilities, group homes, residential care facilities, and persons experiencing homelessness.
Individuals experiencing homelessness.
People who were in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
And whether or not you get tested for COVID-19, remember:
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you need to isolate. Keep your physician informed on your symptoms and, especially if you are elderly or have an underlying health condition, seek medical care if your symptoms worsen. If you don’t have a physician, call 211 to get connected to one. And if you are having trouble breathing or have other severe symptoms, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
If you were exposed to someone with a known infection, you need to quarantine for the full 14 days. A COVID-19 test should never be used as a way to end quarantine early. It will never do that.
The health officer orders are there to keep you and others safe, while still allowing society to reopen. A negative test cannot reassure you that you haven’t been exposed and won’t turn positive tomorrow. Don’t use a negative test as a “free pass” that allows others outside of your household to safely interact with you. It is not safe.
The Culver City Emergency Food Drive continues to accept donations to help those in need in Culver City.
With many neighbors in our community over the age of 65 and/or with underlying medical conditions, and neighbors who have lost their jobs, and don’t have the means to purchase and pickup groceries during the pandemic, we welcome your help! Let’s bridge that gap by being a neighbor that helps neighbors and donate non-perishable food items to those in need.
The requested non-perishable items are:
Rice, dried beans (pinto, black, lentil), pasta sauce, canned meat (Vienna sausages, spam, etc), canned vegetables, canned fruit, rolled oats, low-sodium soups, freeze dried meats, fruits and vegetables, flour, chips and salsa, popcorn, honey, canned fruit juice, water.
Items that are most needed are canned vegetables and canned fruits, tuna, peanut butter and pasta.
Please drop off your non-perishable food items at any of the following locations or call the CERT Assistance Call Center at (310) 253-5545 to arrange a donation pick up from your doorstep by Bike Culver City.
Culver City Presbyterian Church 11269 Washington Blvd.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1 PM to 4 PM (enter through the courtyard)
Larsen Automotive 10707 Jefferson Blvd.
Hours : Monday-Friday 7:30 AM to 5 PM Saturday and Sunday 8 AM to 4 PM
Petco 5347 Sepulveda Blvd.
Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM Every day
Sorrento Italian Market 5518 Sepulveda Blvd.
Hours: Monday - Saturday 7 AM to 7 PM (Closed Tuesday) Sunday - 7 AM to 4 PM
If you or one of your neighbors are in need of food, please call the Culver City CERT Assistance Call Center at (310) 253-5545.
For more information, call Ira Diamond, Organizer, at (213) 309-4084 or Christine Parra, Culver City Emergency Coordinator, at (310) 253-5909.
FeedCulver
Culver City is an amazing community, and it’s pulling together to help those who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. An example of this amazing community support and collaboration is FeedCulver. FeedCulver is a partnership between local restaurants, the Exchange Club, the Culver City Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Association, working with Mayor Göran Eriksson, Council Member Thomas Small, and local non-profits to prepare and distribute nourishing and nutritious meals to those in need in the Culver City community – and they need your support to make it happen.
How does it work? Local restaurants, led by Akasha, create and package meals, which are delivered to volunteer organizations each day to be distributed through their programs.
Who does this serve? FeedCulver distributes around 100 free meals per day to those in need in the Culver City community through local partners. Additionally, this program helps keep local businesses open and their employees working.
What can I do? Make a donation—buy a meal for a neighbor in need! Click here to donate to FeedCulver. All donations will be managed by the Exchange Club and the money will be used to cover the cost of food and preparation. Or, prepare food—do you own a restaurant or catering business? Contact FeedCulver about getting involved. Please note, due to stringent health requirements FeedCulver is not able to engage with home cooks at this time.
LA County Food Resources
Los Angeles County is committed to preventing hunger and ensuring access to food for all residents. The County is currently mobilizing a Countywide response to hunger by coordinating public agencies, nonprofits, and volunteers to provide meals to anyone in need during the weeks and months to come. LA County residents can visit the County COVID-19 website's food portal to receive or provide support at this critical time. The LA County portal connects those in need to those who can help. The food-insecure can find meal and voucher programs. Community organizations can find out how to connect people to the goods that are most needed.
Great Plates Delivered
LA County's Great Plates Delivered program has been extended.
This program provides three free home-delivered meals a day from local restaurants to qualifying older adults and adults over 60 who are at high-risk of COVID-19. Great Plates Delivered not only helps LA County's most vulnerable residents, but helps get local restaurants, hospitality, and transportation industries back to work. To date, this program has provided 140,000 meals to 2,000 clients across LA County. Visit the Great Plates Delivered website for more information.
CalFresh
LA County wants to remind you that CalFresh food assistance is available. Food assistance is needed more than ever to help individuals and households who have just lost jobs, businesses, homes and other financial resources, as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis.
While LA County's Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) offices remain closed, DPSS experts are still open for business and are ready to assist you.
If you or someone you know has a non-emergency, non-medical need or question related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and you would like assistance, please email the City or call the City’s Coronavirus Hotline at (310) 253-6890 (Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM). If you email or leave a message at the Hotline after hours, please include your name, address, phone number, email address, and your need or question. In an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.
We want you to know that we are here for you. If you or another Culver City resident would like a check-in call for a quick chat, let us know. Our friendly City staff are making weekly phone calls to any residents 18 and older just to say “hi," see how you are doing, or offer information and resources. You don’t need a reason—we’ll call you. If you would like to sign-up for the weekly phone call program, give us a ring at (310) 253-6890 (Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM).