– AS I GREET YOU TODAY, SADLY I MUST INFORM YOU THAT THE CURRENT NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS ACROSS LA COUNTY TODAY STANDS AT 7,530, OF WHOM 198 HAVE DIED . IN THE CITY OF INGLEWOOD, THERE ARE 92 CASES OF COVID-19 AND ZERO DEATHS. THESE NUMBERS REPRESENT UNFORTUNATE IMPACTS AND LOSSES TO OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES. THE CITY COUNCIL AND I ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY AND TO CREATE THE SAFEST ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR RESIDENTS, OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
-AS SUCH, EFFECTIVE MONDAY APRIL 13, 2020, CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED FOR BUSINESS FOR A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS AND WILL REOPEN ON MONDAY APRIL 27, 2020, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. DURING THE CLOSURE, THE CITY WILL MAKE SURE ALL ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED.
– ON MARCH 17, 2020 I DECLARED A LOCAL EMERGENCY AND APPROVED EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO PROTECT BUSINESSES FROM FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS DUE TO THE COVID CRISIS. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS RATIFIED THOSE ORDERS. THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS REMAIN IN EFFECT AS LONG AS THE LOCAL EMERGENCY OR STATE EMERGENCY REMAINS IN EFFECT, WHICHEVER IS LONGER. THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
• PROVIDES EVICTION PROTECTION FOR COMMERCIAL TENANTS DURING THE PERIOD OF EMERGENCY AND ALLOWS TENANTS 6 MONTHS AFTER THE ORDER IS LIFTED TO PAY ANY BACK RENT,
• PREVENTS LOCAL WATER UTILITY SHUT-OFFS FOR NON-PAYMENT DUE TO COVID HARDSHIPS DURING THIS EMERGENCY PERIOD, WAIVES LATE FEES, AND ALLOWS CUSTOMERS 6 MONTHS AFTER THE CRISIS PERIOD TO PAY THEIR ARREARAGES,
• WAIVES CITY FEES FOR TRASH COLLECTION FROM FEBRUARY 18, 2020 TO MARCH 17, 2020,
• VOIDS STREET SWEEPING TICKETS ISSUED BETWEEN MARCH 16 AND MARCH 30, 2020 AND REFUNDS PAYMENTS ALREADY MADE FOR TICKETS ISSUED BETWEEN MARCH 16 AND MARCH 30, 2020,
• ALLOWS FREE CITY LOT PARKING FOR RESIDENTS ON STREET SWEEPING DAYS–MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 7AM TO 3PM–AT 1) THE CITY HALL PARKING LOT, 2) THE LIBRARY PARKING LOT AND 3) THE CITY LOT ON ARBOR VITAE ST. AND LA BREA AVE.,
• WAIVES THE CITY’S SERVICE CHARGE FOR RESPONDING TO FALSE ALARMS DURING THIS PERIOD OF LOCAL EMERGENCY AND REBATES PAYMENTS TO ANY BUSINESS OWNER THAT HAS ALREADY PAID FEES FOR FALSE ALARMS SINCE THE EMERGENCY PERIOD WAS DECLARED.
SAFER AT HOME ORDER AND SOCIAL DISTANCING:
– I AM DIRECTING YOU TO COMPLY WITH THE “SAFER AT HOME ORDERS” FROM THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES AND TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
– SOCIAL DISTANCING, NOW REFERRED TO AS “PHYSICAL DISTANCING,” MEANS KEEPING SPACE BETWEEN YOURSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME. TO PRACTICE SOCIAL OR PHYSICAL DISTANCING:
- STAY AT LEAST 6 FEET (2 METERS) FROM OTHER PEOPLE
- DO NOT GATHER IN GROUPS
- STAY OUT OF CROWDED PLACES AND AVOID MASS GATHERINGS OF MORE THAN 9 PEOPLE
– COVID-19 SPREADS MAINLY AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT (WITHIN ABOUT 6 FEET) FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD. RECENT STUDIES INDICATE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE INFECTED, BUT DO NOT SHOW SYMPTOMS, PLAY A ROLE IN THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. THOSE PERSONS CAN ALSO BE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS FOR UP TO 48 HOURS PRIOR TO DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS, WHICH BRINGS ADDITIONAL CONCERN.
– IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT A PERSON CAN GET COVID-19 BY TOUCHING A SURFACE OR OBJECT THAT HAS THE VIRUS ON IT AND THEN TOUCHING THEIR OWN MOUTH, NOSE, OR EYES. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THOUGHT TO BE THE MAIN WAY THE VIRUS SPREADS. COVID-19 CAN LIVE FOR HOURS OR DAYS ON A SURFACE, DEPENDING ON FACTORS SUCH AS SUN LIGHT AND HUMIDITY. SOCIAL DISTANCING HELPS LIMIT CONTACT WITH INFECTED PEOPLE AND CONTAMINATED SURFACES.
– ACCORDING TO GUIDANCE FROM LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), AS CORONAVIRUS CASES AND DEATHS CONTINUE TO SPIKE ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY, HEALTH OFFICIALS MONDAY URGED RESIDENTS TO STAY HOME THIS WEEK, TO LIMIT TIME SPENT OUTSIDE AND TO EVEN AVOID SHOPPING IF POSSIBLE TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
GUIDANCE FOR FACE MASKS:
– LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, CA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND CDC OFFICIALS RECOMMENDS THAT AMERICANS WEAR CLOTH FACE MASK COVERINGS AMID THE PANDEMIC. AGAIN, THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS CONSIDERING A PERSON MAY BE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS FOR UP TO 48 HOURS PRIOR TO DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS.
- ACCEPTABLE, REUSABLE FACE COVERING
OPTIONS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC INCLUDE:
- BANDANA
- NECK GAITER
- HOMEMADE FACE COVERING
- SCARF
- TIGHTLY WOVEN FABRIC, SUCH AS COTTON T-SHIRTS AND SOME TYPES OF TOWELS
- EVERYONE IS DIRECTED TO WEAR A FACE COVERING WHEN THEY ARE INTERACTING WITH OTHERS WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SPACES. FACE COVERINGS ARE AN ADDITIONAL TOOL THAT INDIVIDUALS SHOULD USE TO HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, BUT DOES NOT REPLACE OTHER SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS.
TESTING:
– AS OF TODAY, ANY RESIDENT WHO HAS SYMPTOMS AND WANTS TO BE TESTED FOR THE CORONAVIRUS CAN NOW APPLY ONLINE TO BE TESTED. THE NEW REGIMEN APPLIES TO ANYONE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
- THE CLOSEST TESTING CENTER TO THE CITY OF INGLEWOOD IS THE SOUTH BAY GALLERIA (1815 HAWTHORNE BLVD., REDONDO BEACH, CA 90278) AND CRENSHAW CHRISTIAN CENTER, (7901 S. VERMONT AVE.)
- LA COUNTY PLANS TO RAMP UP DRIVE-UP TESTING SITES AND NEW LOCATIONS ARE PLANNED WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK.
INGLEWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT:
– THE INGLEWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL CAMPUSES WILL REMAIN PHYSICALLY CLOSED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
- TO FIND THE LAUSD GRAB-AND-GO LOCATION FOR STUDENTS, GO TO HTTPS:WWW.ACHIEVE.LAUSD.NET/RESOURCES/
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
– FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, UPDATES AND RESOURCES RELATED TO COVID-19, PLEASE VISIT THE CITY OF INGLEWOOD WEBSITE.
– FOLLOW @READYINGLEWOOD ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER.
