Coronavirus Updates and Resources from Rep. Lieu

Dear neighbor, 

As your member of Congress, I am committed to providing you with the latest information on the coronavirus as we continue to navigate through this unprecedented public health crisis. California and Los Angeles County are still seeing high numbers of COVID-19 cases. As of yesterday, August 6th, LA County exceeded over 200,000 positive cases and recorded a total of 4,869 deaths. We must all continue to play our part in mitigating the spread of this virus and wash our hands frequently; practice social distancing; and wear a mask in public.

The deadline to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan to help keep workers on payroll is tomorrow, August 8th. Please click here to learn more about the program and how to apply. For additional information, please watch our Small Business Virtual Town Hall with local experts on the various forms of assistance available for small businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Your weekly reminder: 

1. 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. Please be aware that scammers are posing as contact tracers in LA County in an attempt to steal personal information. Contact tracers will never ask for your financial information, so if you receive a call or text from someone asking for your social security number or bank account number, hang up immediately.
   
   
2. Due to public health concerns caused by COVID-19, every registered voter in California will receive a mail-in ballot in time for the November 2020 election. Voting from home will help protect yourself and others from the virus. Please run through the checklist below to ensure all your information is up to date. If you see something that’s outdated, you can change it by going to lavote.net or calling 800-815-2666. For more on voting by mail in LA County, including information on how to return and track your ballot, click here.
   
   
   
   
3. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us about the importance of ensuring state and local governments have adequate resources to address the needs of their communities. In order to get an accurate count in the 2020 Census, every resident of our community must respond to the census. Please remember to complete your census form, either online, by phone or by mail to do your part in helping our community receive its fair share of federal resources to benefit our schools, roads, hospitals, emergency preparedness plans and more.
   
   
   
   
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 the State

On Monday, California Public Health officials released statewide guidance on youth sports and detailed the process of requesting elementary school waivers for in-person instruction in counties on the state’s Monitoring List. According to Governor Newsom’s announcement on July 17th, some elementary schools in counties on the Monitoring List may request a waiver but will only be able to resume in-person instruction if they can meet stringent public health guidelines. For more detailed information on the waiver process, click here.

From LA County

In accordance with California’s statewide guidance on youth sports, LA County issued specific reopening protocols that apply to recreational, club, travel and school-based sports in the county. For more information, click here.

Los Angeles County is also continuing its efforts to expand COVID-19 testing at existing sites and open new sites in high-need areas. With the expansion, LA County testing sites will be able to test up to 55,000 residents a week. 

Additional Resources 

1. For COVID-19 testing, priority will still be given to individuals experiencing symptoms; people working or living in high-risk facilities such as nursing homes; and those who have been in close contact with someone known to have COVID-19. For more on testing in LA County, go to covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.
   
   
2. Please click here to view an updated version of the LA County COVID-19 Community Testing Dashboard.
   
   
3. The LA County Department of Public Health sends a weekly COVID-19 text survey called Angelenos in Action to gather information from county residents to help prevent the spread of the virus. To sign up to participate in the survey, text “@PROTECT” to 35134.
   
   
   
   
4. California is offering broad assistance to businesses and employers impacted by COVID-19. For an employer’s playbook to reopening, industry-specific guidance and more, click here. For additional resources for employers and workers, click here.
   
   
5. Applications for Round 3 of the LA Regional COVID Fund are due tonight, August 7 at 11:59 PM. If you are looking for financial assistance as a micro-entrepreneur, small business or non-profit, please go to lacovidfund.org to explore grant and loan options.  
   
   
   
   
6. California created Housing for Harvest, a statewide initiative to provide safe isolation spaces for agricultural workers who have tested positive for COVID-19. Read more about the program to prevent community spread here.
   
   
7. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Wednesday that he will authorize the city to shut down power at homes that hold large parties that violate public health orders aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19. Please remember that these large gatherings are prohibited and set us back on the path to recovery.
   
   
8. If you’ve recently tested positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible to participate in a research study. The Westside Medical Associates of Los Angeles, in partnership with the Montreal Heart Institute, is investigating whether a medicine called colchicine is effective as a short-term treatment for COVID-19. To be eligible for the study, you must be diagnosed with definite or probable COVID-19 in the last 36 hours, not hospitalized and 40 years of age or older. You do not need to leave your home to participate. If you meet the criteria and are interested in participating, please call the study hotline at 1-877-536-6837. If you are a patient of Westside Medical Associates of Los Angeles, please call 310-289-5221. For more information, please visit colcorona.net.  
   
   
9. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning the public about scammers selling products to treat or prevent the coronavirus with no evidence that they work. If you come across any offers for vaccinations and/or home test kits, please ignore them. For more on how to avoid coronavirus scams, go to ftc.gov/coronavirus.
   
   
10. Check your mailbox! All LA County voters have been mailed a Vote by Mail Address Confirmation Card. If you’ve moved recently, please update your address by filling out the card and dropping it in the mail.
    
    
    
    
11. Employers can help prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in the workplace by reporting when they have three or more positive cases within 14 days. Please call 1-888-397-3993 or 213-240-7821 to get assistance with protecting your employees from future spread.  
    
    
12. The FDA is advising the public not to use over 100 different hand sanitizers made by more than 20 companies. Please check your hand sanitizer to ensure it is not made by a manufacturer on this list.
    
    
13. LA County is slowly taking steps to reopen critical sectors of the economy while implementing measures to keep residents safe. For an update on what is open and closed in LA County as well as reopening protocols for specific industries, please visit covid19.lacounty.gov/recovery.
    
    
14. If you have questions about COVID-19 or need assistance with paying your rent or finding food near you, please call 2-1-1. 

For more information on COVID-19, please visit my coronavirus webpage and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. You can also visit covid19.ca.gov and covid19.lacounty.gov for the latest from California and LA County. Although we continue to face challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am confident that if we continue working together to protect the health of ourselves and those around us, we will come out of this crisis a stronger community than before. I look forward to updating you again soon. 

Stay safe. 

Sincerely, 

Ted W. Lieu 
Member of Congress