RHE COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update:
Important update for all City email subscribers
May 14, 2020
The City of Rolling Hills Estates is actively monitoring and listening to the health and policy experts at the federal, state and county levels and taking actions to adhere to requirements or implement policies based upon health expert recommendations.  This important email update is being sent to all City email subscribers to ensure the community is notified.

For important information, please   visit the City’s Coronavirus webpage.

May 14, 2020 Citywide Update
County of Los Angeles Public Health Revised Safer At Home Order

A new Health Officer Order was released on Wednesday which allows for lower-risk businesses and select recreational facilities and beaches to reopen.

All retailers that are not located in an indoor mall or indoor shopping center are able to reopen for curbside, door-side, outside pickup, or delivery only. The public is not allowed to go inside. Manufacturing and logistic businesses that supply retail businesses may also reopen. Before retail businesses, manufacturing and logistic businesses reopen, they are required to prepare, implement and post their plan for adhering to directives including distancing and infection control practices that protect both employees and customers.

Beaches can reopen for active recreation including running, walking, swimming and surfing. However, group sports and activities like picnicking and sunbathing are not permitted, and parking lots, bike paths, piers, and boardwalks, remain closed. Select recreational facilities including golf courses, tennis courts, shooting and archery ranges, equestrian centers and community gardens can also reopen.

In all aspects, everyone must continue to practice physical distancing of at least six feet apart and wear a clean cloth face covering that securely covers both your nose and mouth when around people outside of your household. This Order continues to require that specific higher-risk businesses remain closed and prohibits public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit.

The Department of Public Health will assess the activities allowed by this Order on an ongoing basis and modify this Order as appropriate. Currently, L.A. County is in stage two of the five-stage Roadmap to Recovery and until the final stage five is reached, Health Officer Orders and directives will continue to ensure that we slow spread of COVID-19 to prevent an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 cases at healthcare facilities.

The Great Peninsula Sidewalk Sale
Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce for its first ever Great Peninsula Virtual Sidewalk Sale from May 15 through May 17.

Local businesses have teamed up for a sidewalk sale THIS WEEKEND!
Check it out: https://conta.cc/2AsaDYr
Thunderbirds to Salute California COVID-19 Responders
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will honor frontline COVID-19 responders and essential workers with formation flights over San Diego and Los Angeles May 15.

A formation of 6 F-16C/D Fighting Falcons will conduct these flyovers as salute to healthcare workers, first responders, military, and other essential personnel while standing in solidarity with all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residents along the flight path can expect a few moments of jet noise as the aircraft pass overhead, along with the sight of 6 high-performance aircraft flying in precise formation.

Flyovers in Los Angeles will start at 1:10 P.M. (PDT) and last approximately 30 minutes.

Residents in these areas will be able to see the flyover from the safety of their home- quarantine and should maintain all social distancing guidelines during this event. They should also refrain from traveling to landmarks, hospitals and gathering in large groups to view the flyover. A detailed flight route will be released on the day prior to the flyover.

The team welcomes viewers to tag the flyover on social media with the hashtag #AmericaStrong and #Thunderbirds.

For photos and video for Operation America Strong, visit  https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/americastrong

For more information on the Thunderbirds, visit  www.afthunderbirds.com .
Reminder on Face Coverings
Face coverings are an effective tool and should be kept on hand for easy access and use when out in public if you are unable to maintain 6 feet of physical distancing between persons outside of your regular household. Our best community and individual defense against COVID-19 is to wash our hands frequently, avoid touching our eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, avoid being around sick people and practicing physical distancing, especially by staying at home. Face coverings are not a replacement for these evidence-based strategies for slowing the spread of disease; they are just an additional tool that can protect others from possible exposure to respiratory droplets that may come from our mouth when we talk, sneeze or cough.
A Message from Cal Water
Cal Water
We’re reaching out to provide you with an update on California Water Service’s (Cal Water) Palos Verdes Peninsula Water Reliability Project.  With all 36,300 feet of pipeline installed , crews continue to conduct finishing work to prepare for the new pipeline to be tied into the existing water system (what are known as “tie-ins”). The end of the project is in sight and we sincerely appreciate your patience as work progresses.

Below is an overview of ongoing and upcoming project work –

Crenshaw Boulevard

  • As a reminder, there will continue to be smaller, periodic daytime closures along Crenshaw Boulevard, between Crest Road and the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, until mid-2020 as crews continue finishing work for the new drinking water pipeline.
  • Construction is ongoing at the new pump station site on Crenshaw Boulevard, north of Silver Spur Road. Crews are working from Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

South Coast Botanic Garden & Bridle Trails

  • The Botanic Garden Trail, from Blossom’s Trail to Moccasin Trail, including the Crenshaw Boulevard tunnel, is now open! The portion of the Botanic Garden Trail from Blossom’s Trail to Rolling Hills Road is expected to reopen within the next week or so.
  • This week, crews will conduct work near the Rolling Hills Little League ballfield with heavy machinery that may cause loud noises. The adjacent bridle trails will remain open, but we recommend avoiding the area due to noise that could startle a horse.

Rolling Hills Road 

  • This week, crews will conduct finishing work on Rolling Hills Road (private road) between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for approximately two days. Residents will continue to have access to the private road and the Palomino Ranchos Bridle Trail as work takes place unless otherwise notified. 
  • Intermittent finishing work continues on Rolling Hills Road from Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. There are no anticipated lane closures, but there may be temporary traffic control to route vehicles around work areas.
  • Montecillo Drive
  • Crews are preparing to conduct two tie-ins on Montecillo Drive – one near the Jack Kramer Club and onenear Palos Verdes Drive North. Work will take place from Monday to Saturday, between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. until approximately the end of May. There is a temporary, periodic closure of the northbound lane with traffic diverted to the southbound lane, with at least one lane of traffic open in each direction at all times. At the end of each workday, traffic control will be taken down and the area will be plated for safety and return to normal. Residents will always have access to Montecillo Drive. 

For the latest project information, please visit our  website  and follow us on  Facebook . As a reminder,  all construction timing is estimated  and could change based on several factors, including unforeseeable field circumstances and inclement weather.

We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy!

Best,
Palos Verdes Peninsula Water Reliability Project Team
Keeping Kids and Pets Safer at Home
School closures due to the coronavirus pandemic have significantly changed home life for both families and their pets. Children are now home full time, learning new ways to engage with their teachers while continuing their education. Smaller children that would be in day care or pre-school are also home. Parents working from home may be distracted by work responsibilities and challenged to monitor their children’s and pets’ interactions.

As a result, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control has seen an alarming increase in the reporting of dog bites to children. Most of these situations have occurred when the family dog was eating, playing with a toy, challenged, or hurt by a child. Cats will scratch and even bite if they are threatened or cornered. Keep your children safe and your pets happy by following these suggestions:

  • Recognize that your pets need their own time for rest and de-stressing. A house full of kids all day long can be exhausting for a pet, particularly if multiple children are constantly engaging with it and not giving it time to recharge. Pets should have quiet places where they can retreat, and the children should be taught that they must not disturb the pet when it is resting. Create a retreat for your pets by blocking off an area that they like and make sure the children understand that the pets should not be disturbed when they are using their retreats. Cozy dog crates work great for most dogs, and cats enjoy carpeted cat trees with hiding dens.
  • Remember that small children are not good at recognizing signs of stress or danger from animals. Growling, hissing, avoidance, stiff body posture, whale-eye, raised hackles, twitching tails (cats), nervousness, and lip licking are just some behaviors that demonstrate the pet’s anxiety is increasing and could result in a bite. Always monitor pet and children interactions so you can recognize the early warning signals and intervene before the situation becomes dangerous. Most pets give ample warning before a bite, but frequently a child is not able to recognize the warning signs. They may push the animal until it feels it has no more choices.
  • Be especially protective of older pets. They are likely to have some varying degree of arthritis. It may be painful if a child pats them too hard, hugs them, or falls on them. Many older animals lose their hearing and/or vision and can become startled and alarmed when a child suddenly appears within their space.
  • Also be protective of small or fragile animals. Children can unintentionally injure them and cause pain resulting in a reactive bite.
  • Do not allow children to interfere with a pet when it is eating. This should be a stressor and distraction-free time for a pet to enjoy their meal. Many dogs have a natural desire to protect their food and may fear the child is competing for the meal. This is a common reason for dog bites to children.
  • Always supervise children and pets when they are playing together. Toys can be a source of competition and a dog might bite if its toy is removed. Tug of war can result in accidental bites if a dog grabs for a better hold on the toy and accidentally catches the child’s hand.
  • Do not allow children to climb on dogs, pull their ears, play with their mouths, tug their tails, or engage in other aggravating behaviors. Many animal control officers cringe when they see photos or videos of children climbing on large dogs, noticing the anxiety and stress of the dog and knowing that bite is likely to result from this unwanted aggravation.
Great Plates Delivered Program
WDACS is offering a meal delivery service to assist those in need of home delivered meals and help to get the food, hospitality and transportation community back to work. The program is scheduled to run until June 10, 2020. Individuals may qualify to receive meals if you:

Meet age requirements:

• Are 65 or older; OR
• Are 60-64 and have been diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19 or are at high risk as defined by the CDC

  • Living alone or with one other program-eligible adult
  • Are not currently receiving assistance from other state or federal nutrition assistance programs, like CalFresh/SNAP or Meals on Wheels
  • Are not currently receiving assistance from other Earn less than $74,940 (single) or $101,460 (two-person household)
  • Have difficulty accessing food resources or preparing your own meals
  • Live in unincorporated LA County or a city that does not have its own ‘Great Plates Delivered’ program

For more information on the program, visit: wdacs.lacounty.gov/greatplates/
To apply, call 2-1-1 .
LA County Disaster Help Center
WDACS and DCBA, along with other County partners, have launched a new Disaster Help Center to support business owners and workers adversely affected by the COVID-19 health emergency.

Whether you are a business owner, a worker, a non-profit, a tenant or landlord, the LA County Disaster Help Center is available for immediate assistance. You can also access its free, one-on-one counseling from 8:30am to 5:30pm (Monday through Friday) and 10:00am to 3:00pm.

You can reach the Disaster Help Center by:

#RHEresilient Weekly Activity
This week we are sharing fun pet photos! Staying Safer at home means more time with your pets! Post your photo to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag @CityofRHE and  #RHEresilient . Help us fill our page with fun friendly pet photos! 
Are you a senior or disabled Rolling Hills Estates resident in need of assistance?

Let us know.... please call City Hall at (310) 377-1577 during regular business hours, Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. We are here to help.
PVLD Senior Resources

The Palos Verdes Library District has developed many resources for seniors, including getting started with tech, frequently asked reference questions, eBooklists and more! Check it out at pvld.org/seniors
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Update
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 51 new deaths and 925 new cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Thirty-five people who died were over the age of 65 years old and 12 people who died were between the ages of 41 to 65 years old. Forty-three people had underlying health conditions including 32 people over the age of 65 years old and 11 people between the ages of 41 to 65 years old. Three deaths were reported by the City of Pasadena and one death by the City of Long Beach. 

To date, Public Health has identified 35,329 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 1,709 deaths. Ninety-two percent of people who died had underlying health conditions and 40% were between 18 and 65 years old. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 1,573 people (99 percent of the cases); 38% of deaths occurred among Latinx residents, 29% among White residents, 18% among Asian residents, 12% among African American residents, 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races. African Americans, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and people living in communities with high levels of poverty continue to have the highest rate of death per 100,000 people for COVID-19 when compared to other groups. Upon further investigation, 24 cases and one death reported earlier were not LA County residents. As of today, 5,660 people who tested positive for COVID-19 (16% of positive cases) have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. There are 1,742 people who are currently hospitalized, 26% of these people are in the ICU and 19% are on ventilators. Testing capacity continues to increase in LA County, with testing results available for over 272,000 individuals and 11% of people testing positive.


Pleas e note: As of May 14, 2020, the City of Rolling Hills Estates has thirteen (13) confirmed cases.

More Information and Resources Available
COVID-19 Updates
Residents and businesses can continue to monitor the City's dedicated COVID-19 Updates webpage, which has been newly redesigned for ease-of-use and increased resource information at RHE.city/Covid19 .

Here you will find latest updates, information for seniors and businesses, information on utilities, current status of local restaurants, etc.

The City is working diligently to identify additional resources for the community, especially for our high risk seniors.
Get in Touch with City Staff:
City of Rolling Hills Estates
CONNECT WITH RHE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
FOR CITY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS