Coronavirus Updates and Resources from Rep. Lieu

Dear neighbor, 
 
This is an exceptionally challenging time for our state. Amid wildfires and a record-breaking heatwave, we are still battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the obstacles we face, I am confident in the resiliency of our community. We cannot let our guard down in the fight against COVID-19. It is crucial that we all continue to wear a mask in public; practice social distancing; and wash our hands frequently to protect ourselves and our neighbors. 

As wildfire season overlaps with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to be prepared and stay informed on the potential health risks of both. To learn about steps you can take to prepare for wildfires in light of COVID-19, please view this guidance from the CDC and read through the frequently asked questions on wildfire smoke and COVID-19. To stay updated on evacuation orders and other key emergency information in your area, sign up for alerts here. For more on how to prepare for wildfires at your home, please visit readyforwildfire.org.

LA County currently meets five of the six coronavirus state indicators used to determine county placement on California’s Monitoring List. All counties will remain on the Monitoring List until they meet all six indicators. LA County is seeing encouraging numbers in testing capacity, community transmission, hospitalizations and hospital capacity; but fails to meet the state’s standard for the rate of new cases. As of Today, August 21st, LA County has a 14-day daily average of 217 new cases per 100,000 residents, exceeding the state’s threshold of 100 cases. 

However, in the last month, hospitalizations in LA County have decreased by 37% with a three-day average of 2,219 in mid-July to 1,388 in mid-August. This is a strong indicator that our efforts to fight COVID-19 are working, but we must keep our foot on the accelerator to sustain this downward trend. 

Graph from LA County Department of Public Health

For more data on COVID-19 in LA County, please visit the LA County Department of Public Health website.

Please also remember to fill out the Census if you have not yet done so, and remind your friends. The Census results will help determine the amount of funding our local schools, hospitals and first responders receive from the federal government for the next ten years. The information will be kept safe and is confidential to the Census. To complete the census, click here. 

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 from someone asking for your social security number or bank account number, hang up immediately. If you tested positive for COVID-19 and have not yet heard from a contact tracer, please call 1-833-540-0473.
   
   
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. Every registered voter in California will receive a mail-in ballot in time for the November election. All voters in LA County have been mailed a Vote by Mail Address Confirmation Card. Please check your mail and ensure the address on the card is correct. If you’ve recently moved, you can easily update your address by filling out the card and dropping it in the mail. For more information on vote-by-mail in LA County, go to lavote.net.

COVID-19 Updates

From the State 

In July, Governor Newsom announced new wildfire precautions to protect residents from COVID-19 during wildfires. These include protocols to strengthen fire crews and prevent the virus from spreading in evacuation centers with health screenings upon entry, extra cleaning, prepackaged meals and more. For more information on additional firefighting support from the Governor, click here.   

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been working with partner agencies to secure rooms for the homeless population; distribute critical supplies; and help those in need of food and financial relief. Please see below for an update on California’s pandemic response.

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 the LA County Community COVID-19 Testing Dashboard for data on testing volume, demographics and more.
   
   
3. For updated data on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in California and LA County, go to update.covid19.ca.gov and publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/data/index.htm.
   
   
4. The IRS extended its deadline for people to enter their information through the Non-Filer portal through September 30th. The IRS will use this information to determine eligibility and payment amount for an Economic Impact Payment. If you receive social security benefits or payments; did not file a 2019 or 2018 tax return; have a qualifying child under 17; and did not already enter information for yourself and at least one child, click here to use the Non-Filer Tool.
   
   
5. If you need Wi-Fi, please use LA County’s Wi-finder tool to find free internet spots near you.
   
   
6. LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn and the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs are hosting a free webinar for renters and landlords looking for more information on the countywide eviction moratorium and other rent-related topics. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, August 25th. Please click here for meeting information.
   
   
7. If you’d like to help protect renters and homeowners in your community, apply now to serve as a commissioner on the LA County Rental Housing Oversight Commission. 
   
   
   
   
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 LA County Department of Children and Family Services will not remove a child from a home because of a coronavirus infection.
   
   
   
   
   
10. This week, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education members expressed support for the launch of a new testing and contact tracing program to prepare students, families and staff for safe school reopenings. The program is a collaborative effort between LAUSD, researchers, testing experts and healthcare companies to provide regular COVID-19 testing and contact tracing to LAUSD families and staff. In the process, researchers will begin to study the effects of reopening and generate key data to share with the general public.  
    
    
11. Students and families in the LA Unified School District can call the wellness hotline at (213) 241 – 3840, M–F, 8AM-5PM for support as the school year kicks off. Please click here for more Back to School resources from LAUSD. 
    
    
12. California is currently experiencing a heatwave, which is putting pressure on the state’s energy grid. Please remember to limit your energy usage from 2-9pm to help prevent service interruptions. To learn more and sign up for Flex Alerts, click here.
    
    
    
    
13. Signing up for emergency alerts will help you and your family stay informed and keep safe. To sign up to receive shelter-in-place instructions, evacuation and other emergency messages in LA County, go to alert.lacounty.gov.
    
    
    
    
14. To join LA Public Health’s weekly COVID-19 text survey, Angelenos in Action, text @PROTECT to 35134.
    
    
15. If you need assistance or have questions about your LA County child support case, you can chat with someone live from Child Support Services, Monday-Friday from 7:30am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8am-4:30pm at cssd.lacounty.gov.
    
    
16. As a reminder, unemployment compensation is taxable. To avoid a surprise when you file your taxes, plan ahead and have tax withheld now. For more information from the IRS, click here.
    
    
17. If you have questions about the coronavirus eviction moratorium or other housing issues, please watch this informative Ask a Reporter broadcast with reporters from the LA Times.
    
    
18. Applications for the LA County COVID-19 Rent Relief program are now open! Apply here or call 2-1-1 before August 31st to see if you’re eligible for assistance with your monthly rent payment. This program is not open to renters in the City of LA.
    
    
    
    
19. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or depressed, the LA County Department of Mental Health has resources to help you. Please call the 24/7 Access Line at (800) 854-7771 or text “LA” to 741741 for support. You are not alone.
    
    

For more information on COVID-19, please visit my coronavirus webpage and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. For updates from California and LA County, go to covid19.ca.gov, and covid19.lacounty.gov. We must keep working together to prevent the spread of this virus. Please remember to wash your hands frequently; wear a mask in public; and practice social distancing. I look forward to updating you again soon.

Stay safe. 

Sincerely, 

Ted W. Lieu 
Member of Congress