Significant Increase in COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations - New Restrictions Effective This Friday
Recommendations for College Students Considering a Return Home for Thanksgiving
Stronger Face Covering Guidance from the State
Safer Ways to Give Thanks
FREE COVID-19 Testing
Temporary Relaxed Parking Enforcement Extended Through January 31
Over 45,000 Meals Delivered to Seniors
Fight Flu
Food Resources
Support Community Businesses: #ChooseCulverCity Buy Local Campaign
You Are Not Alone
1. COVID-19 Counts in Culver City and LA County
The City of Culver City mourns the loss of our residents who have passed away, which sadly includes the passing of residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The County of Los Angeles Public Health Department tracks COVID-19 cases and deaths of County residents.
The County’s daily case numbers continue to keep us in the State’s most restrictive purple tier (Tier 1) in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Currently, L.A. County's adjusted case rate is 13.7 new cases per 100,000 people. On Monday, November 16, the State “pulled an emergency brake” in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy resulting in 94.1 percent of California’s population falling in the most restrictive purple tier.
Please protect yourself and those around you by wearing a face covering, washing your hands regularly, keeping at least six feet of physical distance from others when in public, and limit mixing with people you do not live with.
2. Significant Increase in COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations - New Restrictions Effective This Friday
COVID-19 cases have more than doubled since the beginning of November and hospitalizations have increased from an average of about 900 a day to well over 1,000 a day. To protect public health, the safety of our community and everyone’s ability to be served in area hospitals, the County is putting in place the following new restrictions effective this Friday, November 20:
Non-essential businesses permitted to operate indoors—including retail stores, offices, personal care services—occupancy will be limited to 25% maximum capacity.
Outdoor restaurants, breweries and wineries—limited to 50% max outdoor capacity.
Cardrooms, outdoor mini-golf, go-karts and batting cages—limited to 50% maximum outdoor capacity.
Personal care establishments by appointment only to customers wearing face coverings by staff wearing face coverings. Services that require either the customer or the staff to remove their face covering, such as facials and shaves, are not permitted. Food and drinks cannot be served at these establishments to customers.
Restaurants, breweries, wineries, bars, and all other non-essential retail establishments must close from 10 PM to 6 AM. As permitted to operate, businesses can still offer pick-up and delivery services during these hours.
Outdoor gatherings remain the only gatherings permitted, and they must only include 15 people maximum who are members of no more than 3 households.
The Health Officer Order will be amended to reflect the above restrictions and can be found on the Department of Public Health's website. The restrictions aim to reduce the possibility for crowding and reduce the potential for exposures in settings where people are not always wearing their face coverings in an effort to prevent more cases, increased hospitalizations and more deaths.
The County also established the following thresholds for additional actions if cases or hospitalizations continue to increase:
If the five-day average number of cases in the County increases to greater than 4,000 or hospitalizations rise above 1,750 per day, the following restriction will be added:
Outdoor and indoor dining at restaurants, breweries, wineries and bars will be prohibited and these businesses will only be able to offer pick-up and delivery. Businesses in this sector are being notified via email by DPH, which will work with them to ensure a smooth transition.
If the five-day average number of cases in the County is greater than 4,500 or hospitalizations increase beyond 2,000 per day, the following restriction will be added:
A Safer at Home Order will be instituted for three weeks. The Order would only allow essential workers and those securing essential services to leave their homes.
A 10 PM to 6 AM curfew would be mandated, with essential workers exempt.
3. Recommendations for College Students Considering a Return Home for Thanksgiving
If you are a college student considering a return home to Los Angeles County for Thanksgiving, local public health authorities recommend the following:
That you do not return home for Thanksgiving, if possible.
Dr. Barbara Ferrer provided comments regarding returning college students at the County’s November 12, 2020 COVID-19 update (skip to 37:00 minute mark to listen/view). Dr. Ferrer explained that the Public Health preference is for people to not fly home for Thanksgiving, including students and others. She continued to describe the 14-day quarantine as a sound recommendation to avoid the spread of the virus to and from other regions. Dr. Ferrer stated, "When you’ve traveled, and that would include students and all the rest of us—if you are going to travel, which we’re recommending you not do. We’re recommending that this Thanksgiving be a stay at home Thanksgiving. But, if you are going to travel, we do ask that when you come back that you quarantine for 14 days.”
Individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings in the following specific settings:
Persons in a car alone or solely with members of their own household.
Persons who are working in an office or in a room alone.
Persons who are actively eating or drinking provided that they are able to maintain a distance of at least six feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or residence.
Persons who are outdoors and maintaining at least 6 feet of social distancing from others not in their household. Such persons must have a face covering with them at all times and must put it on if they are within 6 feet of others who are not in their household.
Workers who are required to wear respiratory protection.
Persons who are specifically exempted from wearing face coverings by other California Department of Public Health guidance.
The following individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings at all times:
Persons younger than two years old. These very young children must not wear a face covering because of the risk of suffocation.
Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. This includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. Such conditions are rare.
Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
Today, the Los Angeles Department of Public Health advised of several safer ways to give thanks this year.
Do not travel
Stay home and celebrate with people from your household
If you do gather, do so outdoors with no more than two other households and follow small private gathering guidance. Always wear face coverings unless eating or drinking and stay at least 6 feet apart. Limit the gathering to no more than two hours and do not share food or utensils.
Donate to food pantries and food drives
Connect with family and friends virtually. Show them how thankful you are. Help keep them safer with a virtual celebration.
6. FREE COVID-19 Testing
Please note: a COVID-19 test will not protect you and others around you from the virus. Even if you receive a negative result, you should practice physical distancing, wear a face covering, and wash your hands frequently. A negative COVID-19 test does not guarantee that you do not have the virus. With widespread community transmission, there is a daily risk of being infected with COVID-19.
Please be sure to get tested if:
You are having symptoms of COVID-19.
If you have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If you think you were exposed because you were working, especially in essential services, in a place where you are frequently exposed to other people who may not be taking precautions.
If you share living spaces with other people who may be positive for COVID-19.
If you have been in a crowd or gathering where people were close together and not wearing face coverings and/or keeping their distance.
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 with the California for ALL Testing Tool.
7. Temporary Relaxed Parking Enforcement Extended - January 31
To make every effort to help people stay home and slow the spread of COVID-19, the City of Culver City will continue relaxed parking enforcement through January 31, 2021. The City Council is tentatively scheduled to discuss further extension of relaxed parking enforcement at the November 9, 2020 City Council meeting.
While parking enforcement on street sweeping days has been temporarily suspended, street sweeping services are still occurring. Understanding that the street sweeper must maneuver around parked cars, many residents have inquired about the relaxed enforcement, and on their own have moved their vehicles off of the street on posted street sweeping days.
The City kindly requests motorists to move their cars when possible on street sweeping days during this relaxed enforcement period. If there are any leaves or trash in the curb area that the sweeper cannot reach because of parked cars, the City asks residents to sweep such material out into the street beyond the parked cars an hour or so before the scheduled sweeping time. Or, residents can sweep up the materials and place them in their green bins for collection.
8. Over 45,000 Meals Delivered to Seniors
As of this week, the Parks, Recreation and Community Services team has delivered over 45,000 meals to local seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior Center staff also continue to call more than 700 seniors each week and, along with the Community Emergency Response Team, deliver Culver City Emergency Food Drive groceries to those in need. Follow the PRCS team on Instagram @culvercityprcs to stay current on programming and services or call the Coronavirus hotline at (310) 253-6890 (Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM) if you would like more information on programs available.
9. Fight Flu
Public Health recommends everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine. The more people vaccinated against flu, the more people will be protected from flu! To find a flu immunization near you, call your doctor, your local pharmacy or go to the vaccine finder website. To find a flu immunization at LOW COST or FREE, call 2-1-1 or visit the Public Health website.
10. Food Resources
Culver City Emergency Food Drive
The Culver City Emergency Food Drive continues to accept donations to help those in need in Culver City. 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.
The Culver City Emergency Food Drive has created an Amazon wish list to make donating food easier. The list allows you to add items to your cart and select shipping to Culver City CERT/Stephanie. The food will be shipped directly to the food drive and help provide for the week-to-week operations. There is also a new option to donate food specifically for Thanksgiving, which will help families in need enjoy a nice Thanksgiving meal.
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
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 extended through November 8th!
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 be eligible for this program, individuals:
must meet age requirements
are 65 or older; OR are 60-64 and have been diagnosed with, exposed to or at high risk of COVID-19 as defined by the CDC
are unable to prepare or obtain meals
are not currently receiving assistance from other state or federal nutrition assistance programs such as CalFresh/SNAP
must live alone or with one other program-eligible adult
must earn between $25,520 to $74,940 (single household) or between $34,380 to $101,460 (two-person household) per year
must live in unincorporated LA County or a city that does not offer its own Great Plates Delivered program
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.
11. Support Community Businesses: #ChooseCulverCity Buy Local Campaign
The City of Culver City’s Economic Recovery Task Force is launching the #ChooseCulverCity buy local campaign and calling on you to think local first when shopping, dining, or requiring services. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to delay full reopening, if you are able, now is the time to support local businesses to ensure their survival and success. Don’t want to go into a store or dine in? No problem! Many of our businesses offer online shopping, shipping, home delivery and curbside pickup. Just ask!
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).
