Residents 16 and Older Can Now Schedule a Vaccination Appointment
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause
Public Health to Release Additional Protocols Today Regarding Events and Gatherings
COVID-19 Cases Continue to Rise in the United States
COVID-19 Counts in Culver City and LA County
FEMA Funeral Assistance
Foreclosure Prevention & Mortgage Relief Program Now Available
Culver City Julian Dixon Library to Reopen April 19th for Select In-Person Services
1. Residents 16 and Older Can Now Schedule a Vaccination Appointment
Starting tomorrow, April 15, vaccine eligibility is expanding to anyone living or working in LA County 16 and older. To date, about 1.5 million residents between 16 and 49 have received at least one dose of the vaccine, which means 3.5 million residents in this group still need to be vaccinated.
All LA County residentswho 16orolder can now schedule a vaccination appointment. Registration is required. Eligible LA County residents with internet access and a computer are urged to use the Vaccinate LA County website to reserve an appointment. Please note, youth ages 16 and 17 need to sign up at a site that offers the Pfizer vaccine.
For those without access to the internet, or with disabilities, a call center is open daily from 8 AM to 8:30 PM to help schedule appointments; dial (833) 540-0473 if you are in need of assistance. Please note that this phone line is reserved for people with disabilities or for those who don’t have internet access.
2. Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause
Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a joint recommendation to pause the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine after reports that six women between the ages of 18 and 48 developed unusual types of blood clots 6 to 13 days after receiving the vaccine. Out of an abundance of caution, Los Angeles County is following the recommendation of the FDA and CDC to pause the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine until the FDA and CDC complete their review, which is expected to take several days.
Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare as over7.2 milliondoses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered to date. COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority, and Public Health is working with healthcare providers across the county to ensure they are using screening tools and reporting adverse events. People who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last three weeks should look for any symptoms of these unusual clots, including severe headaches, abdominal or leg pain, and shortness of breath, and contact their medical provider if symptoms develop. People who don't have a medical provider can call 2-1-1 to connect with a healthcare provider.
Public Health notes the pause in use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should not have a major impact on this week's vaccine appointments for the County. Out of the 323,470 total doses allocated to the County this week, only 19,600 were Johnson & Johnson doses. Vaccine providers in Los Angeles County will contact patients that were scheduled to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine about rescheduling or providing a new appointment for Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
3. Public Health to Release Additional Protocols Today Regarding Events and Gatherings
Later today, Public Health will release several protocols to help the people of Los Angeles begin to enjoy additional opportunities for shared activities. These include guidance on reopening indoor seated live events and performances; guidance on safety modifications required for private events, meetings, and conferences; and relaxed rules for informal gatherings. The protocols will provide guidance on distancing, masking, infection control, and capacity requirements needed to minimize risk while gathering or attending events with those not members of our household. Visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website to view protocols once posted.
Just because certain activities are allowed or certain reopening protocols are revised, it does not mean that those activities are “safe” and without risk. To keep yourself, your family, your friends and neighbors, and the broader community and local economy safe, continue following these core practices:
Go outdoors. Outdoor activities are far safer than indoor ones.
Stay masked. Consistent and correct use of masks, especially double-masking, both indoors and outdoors, is very effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others. Physical distancing from those who do not live with you also helps to keep the virus away.
Avoid crowds. The fewer people you encounter and the fewer interactions you have, the smaller the chance the virus will spread.
Get vaccinated when it’s your turn.
4. COVID-19 Cases Continue to Rise in the United States
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise since March 20. The current 7-day moving average of daily new cases is 69,953, a 10% increase from the previous week. View nationwide statistics on the CDC’s website.
5. 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.
Culver City’s Case and Death Counts – as of April 13, 2021
Cases in Culver City – 2,184
Deaths in Culver City – 105
Cases in Los Angeles County – 411 new cases were reported today (1,226,964 cases to date)
Deaths in Los Angeles County – 57 new deaths were reported today (23,553 deaths to date)
There are 493 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized, and 26% of these people are in the intensive care unit. Testing results are available for nearly 6,235,000 individuals with 18% of people testing positive. Today’s daily positivity rate is 1.2%. View additional COVID-19 metrics on the LA County COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard and the COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by City/Community table.
Yesterday, the State released updated numbers; LA County’s adjusted case rate slightly increased from 3.1 new cases per 100,000 people to 3.2 new cases per 100,000. The test positivity rate remained at 1.5% and in areas with the fewest health affirming resources, LA County’s test positivity rate remained at 1.9%.
6. FEMA Funeral Assistance
The pandemic has devastated community members who for the past year have grieved the loss of family, friends and loved ones lost to COVID-19. In an effort to ease the financial burden of the virus, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.
Applications are currently being accepted through the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line at (844) 684-6333 (TTY: (800) 462-7585). Hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 6 AM – 6 PM. Multilingual services are available. Please note the following:
High Call Volume Delays: The funeral assistance phone line has been experiencing a high call volume, which has been causing some technical issues. Please try again if you get a busy signal or your call doesn’t connect. There is no deadline to apply.
Fraud Alert: FEMA has received reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral assistance. FEMA has not sent any such notifications and FEMA does not contact people before they register.
7. Foreclosure Prevention & Mortgage Relief Program Now Available
Property owners can now apply for the Mortgage Relief Program, a partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services of LA County and local HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. The $5.5 million initiative developed by the LA County Board of Supervisors will support property owners who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mortgage Relief Program will include a relief fund which provides grants of up to $20,000 for qualified property owners, plus expanded foreclosure prevention counseling services. The program is structured to benefit single-family homeowners and property owners with four or fewer units living in communities highly impacted by COVID-19.
8. Culver City Julian Dixon Library to Reopen April 19th for Select In-Person Services
The LA County Library recently announced that several libraries will reopen for select in-person services on Monday, April 19, 2021, with safety measures in place. Services that will be available at reopened libraries may include:
Browse the collection and checkout items
Public computer (up to 1 hour per customer)
Holds pickup
Brief reference interactions to assist in finding materials or information
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).
Questions? Call the Culver City Hotline
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.
