Full Notification

Current Initiatives and Updates

• Where L.A. County Stands on the States Tier System - As of October 6, 2020, Los Angeles County remains in Tier One, with "widespread" risk and the most restrictions. According to the State's website, L.A. County reflects 9.4 new COVID-19 cases per day (per 100k), with an adjusted case rate for tier assignment of 7.4; the positivity rate is 2.8%. Los Angeles County has met the State's positivity rate metric threshold for Tier Three with "moderate" risk but remains in Tier One because the tier assignment case rate is greater than 7. When the positivity rate and case rate fall into different tiers, the stricter tier prevails.
• Manhattan Beach Library Extends its Sidewalk Service – The Manhattan Beach Library has extended its Sidewalk Service and added Tuesday evenings until 7:00 PM. Sidewalk Service hours are Monday, Wednesday to Friday, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Phone Service: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM), Tuesdays from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Phone Service: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM). The Library remains closed to the public, but the staff is answering phones Monday to Friday. Printing pickup is also available during Sidewalk Service hours which allows community members to print up to 10 pages daily. You’ll need a library card or digital library card in good standing to print documents. Visit the Wireless Printing page for the printing link or download the SmartAlec app to print from a mobile device. For more information, visit lacounty.library.org.

Federal, State, and County Updates

• Public Health Order Updated to Re-Open New Business Sectors - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) updated the Public Health Officer Order to do the following:
  • Allows nail salons to re-open indoor operations at 25% capacity with modifications beginning October 1;
  • Allows indoor malls and shopping centers to re-open at a maximum of 25% indoor capacity with required modifications starting October 7; and
  • Allows cardrooms to re-open for outdoor operations only with essential modifications beginning October 5.

• Pandemic Recovery Funds for Small Nonprofits – As businesses and nonprofits in L.A. County continue to face challenges in response to COVID-19, partners across government and philanthropy have come together to deploy millions in grants for small businesses, nonprofits, and micro-entrepreneurs in the L.A. Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund. Awards are distributed through an online, randomized, equitable application system. Round Five of the L.A. Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund Grant is open to micro-entrepreneurs, very small businesses and nonprofits, and small businesses and nonprofits located in Los Angeles County. The application will close on October 9. Visit lacovidfund.org to apply and for more information.
• Community Mitigation Measures Can Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19 – The Center for Disease and Prevention (CDC) published Trends in COVID-19 Incidence After Implementation of Mitigation Measures Arizona, January 22 to August 7, 2020. The number of COVID-19 cases in Arizona stabilized and then decreased after sustained implementation and enforcement of statewide and locally enhanced mitigation measures, including enforcement of mask mandates, improved sanitation practices, statewide limitations, and closures of certain services and businesses. The implications for public health practice are that widespread implementation and enforcement of these sustained community mitigation measures can help prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and decrease the numbers of COVID-19 cases. For more information, visit cdc.gov.
• Planning for a Safe Halloween Celebration - With Fall here, many families are starting to prepare for the upcoming holiday season—beginning with Halloween. Since traditional ways this holiday is celebrated does not allow contact with non-household members, it is essential to plan early and identify safe alternatives. Helpful resources on how to take part in the holiday in a manner that may reduce your risk of COVID-19 includes the DPH Guidance for Celebrating Halloween and the CDC Holiday Celebrations page.
• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Adults – The CDC recently published a Case Series of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection March to August 2020. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Since June 2020, there have been several cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A). On October 2, DPH reported two additional cases of MIS-C, raising the total count of MIS-C in L.A. County to 40 children. All 40 MIS-C children required hospitalization, and nearly 50% were treated in intensive care. There have been no reported MIS-C deaths in L.A. County children. MIS-A in adults usually requires intensive care and can have fatal outcomes. MIS-A reinforces the need for prevention efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19.
• Update on "How COVID-19 is Spread"– CDC issued updated guidance on How COVID-19 Spreads, including information about the potential for airborne spread of the virus. Based on current science, CDC continues to believe that people are more likely to become infected the more extended and closer they are to a person with COVID-19. Today's update acknowledges the existence of reports showing limited, uncommon circumstances where people with COVID-19 infected others who were more than 6 feet away or shortly after the COVID-19-positive person left an area. In these instances, transmission occurred in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces that often involved activities that caused heavier breathing, like singing or exercise. Such environments and activities may contribute to the buildup of virus-carrying particles. People can protect themselves from the virus that causes COVID-19 by staying at least 6 feet away from others, wearing a mask that covers their nose and mouth, washing their hands frequently, cleaning touched surfaces often, and staying home when sick. For more information, visit cdc.gov.

• SBA Eligibility for Loans and Contracts - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking public comments on two proposed rules, RIN 3245-AG89 (Small Business Size Standards: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction; Utilities; Construction) and RIN 3245-AG90 (Small Business Size Standards: Transportation and Warehousing; Information; Finance and Insurance; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing) that would revise the small business size standards for business sectors to increase small business eligibility for SBA's loan and contracting programs. The proposed revisions reflect changes in the industry and federal marketplace conditions and the SBA's policy position under the current economic situation due to COVID-19. In response to the pandemic, the SBA retains current size standards where data suggests that size standards should be lowered. Business owners in the sectors identified are asked to submit public comment on the proposed rules by December 1, 2020, to regulations.gov. Visit sba.gov for more information.
• DMV Extends Expiring Commercial Driver's Licenses - California commercial drivers can continue delivering essential products and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic without worrying about an expiring license following a new round of California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) extensions. The DMV issued extensions through December 31, 2020, to all commercial driver's licenses, learner's permits, and endorsements expiring between March and December 31, 2020. A previous extension was set to expire on September 30. The DMV has alerted California law enforcement of the new extensions. While the extension is automatic, eligible commercial drivers will not receive a new card or an extension in the mail. Visit dmv.ca.gov for more information.
• Update from the Employment Development Department – The California Employment Development Department (EDD) is issuing two more weeks of extra $300 Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) payments to qualifying Californians. These payments are going out to claimants who previously collected either regular Unemployment Insurance (U.I.), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) or FED-ED extension, or federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits for the weeks ending August 22 and/or August 29. For more information, visit edd.ca.gov.
• L.A. County Daily Briefing Statistics on COVID-19 – DPH confirmed 30 new deaths, no (zero) new cases of COVID-19 in Manhattan Beach, and 990 new cases of COVID-19 in L.A. County in today's daily report. To date, DPH has identified 275,856 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County, and a total of 6,681 deaths. Testing results are available for more than 2,737,000 individuals, with 9% of all people testing positive. Currently, there are 685 confirmed cases presently hospitalized, and 29% of these people are documented cases in the ICU. To view DPH's COVID-19 Daily Data, visit lacounty.gov. To view statewide case statistics and demographics, including positive cases, deaths, and testing results, visit covid-19.ca.gov.

[1] October 5, 2020, Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

[2] October 5, 2020, Source: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx

[3] October 6, 2020, Source: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

[4] October 6, 2020, Source:  http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/