Dear neighbor, 

This week, we learned the horrifying news of a mass shooting in Atlanta. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. Although we await more details, we know that at least six of the eight victims were Asian, and that the alleged murderer targeted three locations where the victims would disproportionately be Asian women. This unspeakable tragedy comes at a time when harassment, discrimination, and hate crimes against Asian Americans are on the rise. We must do more to Stop Asian Hate, condemn these attacks, and hold former and current public officials accountable for the rhetoric they have used and continue to use when describing COVID-19. 

Although the events of this week have been difficult, there is good news. With gratitude to the Biden-Harris Administration and my Democratic colleagues in Congress, I can proudly say that Help is On the Way to the American people. The American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law last week, will save lives and livelihoods by mounting a national vaccination program, helping children return safely to schools, putting money in people’s pockets, and putting people back in jobs. As of March 17th, the U.S. has issued 90 million stimulus checks to the American people – and more are on their way. To check the status of your payment, please go to irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment. 

With the delivery of the life-saving resources of the American Rescue Plan and with the President’s new actions to crush the virus — including making all adults eligible for the vaccine by May 1st and taking further action to safely re-open schools, we can say that hope is on the horizon. However, we must continue to wash our hands frequently; engage in social distancing; and wear a mask in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which remains highly contagious.  

If you would like to continue receiving weekly vaccine and COVID updates, please sign up here.

VACCINE DISTRIBUTION UPDATES

What phase are we in?

As of Monday, March 15th, people ages 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions and disabilities are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in LA County. People with these conditions should check with their health care provider first to see if they can be vaccinated by their health care provider.

In addition, the following groups remain eligible: 

• LA County Residents 65 and older
• Education and childcare workers
• Food and agriculture workers
• Emergency service workers
• People who live or work in congregate living spaces
• Janitorial, Custodial, and Maintenance Services
• Transportation and logistics

If you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit VaccinateLACounty.com to book an appointment. Residents with disabilities or without computer access may call 833-540-0473 between 8:00 am and 8:30 pm 7 days a week for assistance.

If you have already received your first dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, please click here to learn more about securing your second dose. If you have been fully vaccinated, please view these tips for after you receive the vaccine.

The West LA VA is now offering COVID-19 vaccines to veterans of ALL ages who are eligible for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare and enrolled with VAGLAHS. Veterans can call the VAGLAHS COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Line at (310) 268-4900 to schedule an appointment.

Are all the vaccines safe and effective?

Yes! The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are all safe and effective in preventing symptomatic, moderate, and severe COVID-19 illness. Last week, LA County received the first shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Similar to Pfizer and Moderna, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is extremely effective in preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Please click here for more information on each vaccine.  

STATE AND LOCAL COVID-19 UPDATES 

From the State 

The State of California announced the launch of the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program, designed to help income-eligible households pay rent and utilities during these challenging times. The program provides financial assistance to income-qualified tenants experiencing housing instability and provides rent reimbursements to landlords for unpaid rent accrued from April 1st, 2020 through March 31st, 2021. For more information on how you can receive assistance, please visit HousingIsKey.com.  

From LA County 

Los Angeles County has met the threshold to reopen critical sectors in line with the red tier on California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The new tier will permit a wide range of indoor operations to resume in sectors including middle and high schools; restaurants; movie theaters; gyms and museums; and zoos and aquariums – all with the proper safety protocols in place. The LA County Department of Public Health has updated the community’s Health Officer Order to reflect the recent changes.

TESTING

All LA County residents who would like to get tested for COVID-19 should first contact their Primary Care Provider to see if they offer tests. If you cannot access a test through your health care provider, please visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing or corona-virus.la/covid-19-testing to sign up for a no-cost COVID-19 test. Testing is recommended for those who:

• Have symptoms related to COVID-19.
• Were asked to get tested by LA Public Health because of a contact tracing investigation.
• Were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past two weeks.
• Work or live in a skilled nursing facility; group home; residential care facility; homeless shelter; or correctional facility.
• Are experiencing homelessness.
• Are essential workers with frequent contact with the public.
• Don’t have symptoms but believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19. 

If you live in the City of LA and are unable to drive to a testing site, you can receive a free COVID-19 test at a mobile pop-up location (no appointment necessary). Please click here to view current and upcoming pop-up testing sites.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Need health care? Enroll now! Due to COVID-19, Covered California established a special enrollment period that allows any eligible Californian to enroll in health coverage through May 15th. If you’ve lost your job and health care because of COVID-19, you can shop and compare new plans and get covered for 2021 at CoveredCA.com.
• The IRS announced this week that it will extend the 2020 tax filing deadline for individuals to May 17th, 2021. For more information, please click here. 
• For updated data on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in California and LA County, please go to update.covid19.ca.gov and publichealth.lacounty.gov.
• Sign up to get notified when it’s your turn to receive the vaccine. 
• CDC’s guidance for coping with stress and anxiety during a pandemic.
• If you need someone to talk to, please call the LA County Department of Mental Health hotline at (800) 854-7771 or text “LA” to 741741.
• Opt-in to receive notifications if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
• If you are in need of food assistance; housing relief; information about COVID-19; and more, please call 2-1-1 or visit 211la.org.
• Get your flu shot to stay healthy this season.
• Learn about vaccine misinformation and how to avoid vaccine scams.
• How COVID-19 vaccines work (CDC).

As more vaccines continue to be distributed across LA County and California, we are hopeful for a safer and brighter future. However, we must not let our guard down in the fight against COVID-19. Please continue to wash your hands frequently; practice social distancing; and wear a mask in public. For more information on COVID-19 and vaccines, please visit covid19.ca.gov/vaccines and VaccinateLACounty.com and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Stay safe. 

Sincerely, 

Ted W. Lieu 
Member of Congress