Join us for our Safe in the South Bay Series:
LiveWell during COVID-19
Tuesday, August 25
5 - 6:30 p.m.
Beach Cities Health District’s Safe in the South Bay Series is bringing health experts, cities, chambers, schools and community members together around this fast-moving pandemic. The live-streamed series will cover a variety of COVID-19 topics, including testing, navigating the new normal, mental health and personal resilience.
Our first Safe in the South Bay series will answer some of your most frequently asked COVID-19 questions, as well as receive an update on the latest Beach Cities COVID-19 numbers, what it means to live in the new normal and how you can support local businesses.
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Los Angeles County's Latest Health Officer Order
On August 12, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a revised Health Officer Order to clarify when elementary schools may seek a waiver for in-person instruction for grades TK-6, update operations for childcare facilities to specify childcare be carried out in groups of 12 or fewer children, and align with new guidance for Institutes of Higher Education. Read the Health Officer Order here.
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Cautious Optimism
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health continues to see decreases and stabilization of daily hospitalizations and deaths. In the last month, daily hospitalizations have decreased by 37%, from 2,219 in mid-July to 1,388 in mid-August. In late July, the average daily reported deaths was 43. Now, in mid-August, the Department of Public Health reports an average of 30 reported deaths per day.
While this data suggests we are heading in the right direction in reducing transmission of the virus, work still needs to be done to lower the case rate - the number of positive cases in Los Angeles County per 100,000 people over a 14-day period. Currently, the County's 14-day cases per 100,000 people is 295, which is significantly higher than the state’s threshold of having fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people.
The Department of Public Health continues to report that 92% of people who died from COVID-19 had underlying health conditions. This means that 8% were healthy, demonstrating that anyone, regardless of age or health status is at risk for severe illness, even death, from COVID-19.
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#BeachResponsibly
Many of us are enjoying the sunny California weather with a beach day. If you're heading to the beach, remember these tips from Los Angeles County:
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Virtual Beach Cities Summer Free Fitness Series: Zumba
Grab your computer, break a sweat and de-stress at home!
Monday, August 24
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
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Virtual Blue Zones Project Cooking Show
Learn about Blue Zones Project inspired food from registered dietitian, Marissa Martorana, and get a taste of how to live longer, better.
This month's cooking show will highlight recipes using peaches in honor of National Peach Month!
Thursday, August 27
4 - 5 p.m.
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Virtual Mental Health & Happiness: An Introduction to the Series
This introduction provides an overview of the series designed to support well-being through gratitude, empathy, bravery and purpose. Learn techniques to build a practice supporting stress resilience and positive social connections.
Friday, August 28 or September 18
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
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Virtual Mindfulness Drop-In
Take 30 minutes to downshift and practice mindfulness techniques the first Wednesday of each month.
Wednesday, September 2
4 - 4:30 p.m.
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Virtual Blue Zones Project Social Hour
Enjoy good company and practice a few Power 9 Principles of Longevity, including Down Shift and Right Tribe.
Tuesday, September 8
4 - 5 p.m.
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Savvy Express: Free Virtual Caregiver Workshops
Savvy Express is a 3 week program specially designed to benefit someone providing care for an individual living with dementia by providing more understanding and tools to help navigate the journey.
Tuesdays, September 15, 22 and 29
2 - 4 p.m.
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Virtual Moai Social: Book Discussion
We will discuss "Mastering Your Motivation: Three Scientific Truths for Achieving Your Goals" by Susan Fowler. Kathleen Terry will guide us on how each of us can stop bad habits, start new ones and support ourselves and others in setting meaningful goals that we are motivated to accomplish.
Wednesday, September 23
4 p.m.
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Virtual Families Connected Parent Chat
A free parent support group led by a licensed professional from the Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment at Torrance Memorial Medical Center held in partnership with South Bay Families Connected. Open to all parents.
Mondays
10 – 11 a.m.
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Virtual Happiness Chat
This is a casual discussion group with light-hearted activities to spark conversation. Share ideas, tips, resources, jokes, quotes – anything that supports our happiness!
Tuesdays
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
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#LiveWellAtHome
Get unlimited access to all Center for Health & Fitness live virtual exercise classes for a monthly fee of $32. Small Group Training is also available virtually for $12 per class. Learn more.
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Healthy Living Campus
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT PROCESS
At the June 17, 2020 BCHD Board of Directors meeting, the refined Draft Healthy Living Campus Master Plan and financials were presented. The Board voted to continue the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process — originally started in June 2019, with five scoping meetings, including one in Torrance.
The EIR will now incorporate a more compact Draft Healthy Living Campus Master plan as the basis of the project description, which will inform the public and project decision-makers about significant environmental effects and identify feasible methods to minimize or avoid those effects.
With the EIR process ongoing, no final decisions regarding the proposed campus have been made. The concept phase is completed, and we are now heading into the environmental analysis. We expect the Draft EIR to be released in late 2020/early 2021.
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COVID-19 Testing at BCHD Campus 514 N. Prospect
As cases continue to rise in Los Angeles County, many residents believe they need to get tested for COVID-19. However, Los Angeles County health officials stress that not everyone needs to be tested.
A COVID-19 test does not protect you from the virus, and a negative result should not be seen as a reason to engage in risky social behavior. Even when you test negative today, you could still test positive tomorrow.
Los Angeles County's testing criteria includes:
- Those who have COVID-19 symptoms: Fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea
- Those who have a known exposure to COVID-19, including those who were in close contact with someone with COVID-19
- Those who live or work in a high-risk setting (such as skilled nursing facilities, group homes, residential care facilities and persons experiencing homelessness)
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In accordance with California Department of Health Testing Guidance, testing is also available when there is additional testing capacity if you do not have symptoms and you are an essential worker with frequent contacts with the public in these sectors: health care, emergency services, food and grocery, retail or manufacturing, public transportation, and education. To view a complete list of essential worker groups from the California Department of Public Health, click here.
If you're unsure if you need a test, check with your health care provider. Unless you have specific symptoms, live in a high-risk setting or have had close contact with someone who has a confirmed positive case of COVID-19, you may not need to be tested, and your health care provider can talk with you about your concerns.
If you don’t have a doctor, call 211 to get a referral. Essential workers should also consider their risk exposure history in consultation with their provider, their occupational health advisor and public health department.
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If you are unable to receive testing through your provider, please continue to check the site for availability at Los Angeles County sites, or make an appointment at a Los Angeles City, state-operated or community testing site such as CVS by visiting covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. Tests are free of charge and are by appointment only.
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What to expect after you've been tested for COVID-19
If you are awaiting testing results, you should stay home and act as if you are positive. This means self-isolating for 10 days and 24 hours after fever subsides and symptoms improve. If a person tests positive for COVID-19, they should plan on receiving a call from a contact tracer to discuss how to protect themselves and others, to find out where they may have been, and who they were in close contact with while infectious. If you are positive for COVID-19 and have not yet connected with a public health specialist or need more information on services, call toll-free at 1-833-540-0473. Residents who do not have COVID-19 should continue to call 211 for resources or more information.
If a person tests negative, they must continue to take every precaution to avoid contracting the virus or spreading the virus to others.
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We Can All Be Health Leaders
In addition to physical distancing and wearing cloth face coverings when we are around others, we all still need to take the same precautions that we were taking earlier on in the pandemic - wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and self-isolate if you are sick. These actions combined are the best defense against COVID-19.
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Need help?
If you or someone you know in the Beach Cities needs help with health-related information and referrals, Covered California or errand assistance and meal delivery, please call our Assistance, Information & Referral line at 310-374-3426, ext. 256, seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. or visit us online at bchd.org/resources.
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As of 8/17/2020
Note: Due to technology issues with the electronic laboratory system at the state-level, COVID-19 cases have been under reported for Los Angeles County. Once the data reporting issues are fixed, the number of cases is expected to increase. Data sources that track other key indicators, including hospitalizations and deaths, are not affected by this reporting issue.
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For more information about COVID-19, visit:
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