May 1, 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Social-Distancing Information

First and foremost, please know that both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are monitoring the situation closely. It is important to remember that handling the spread of a serious disease like the coronavirus is primarily a task for public health agencies. Any directives from the World Health Organization, CDC, or local governmental organizations should be followed. 

On April 30, Mayor Garcetti announced that all Los Angeles City residents can now receive free testing, regardless of whether they have symptoms. Health care workers will take precedence. There will be 34 testing sites citywide. Please visit https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs to schedule an appointment.

Key Practices for Prevention of Any Infectious Disease:

• Frequently clean hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. View additional tips from the CDC here. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.
• Clean and sanitize your work (if you are an essential) and home areas.
• Do not go to work if you are sick. The number one way to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses is to stay home if you are sick, even if only experiencing mild symptoms. 
• Avoid travel to areas where there are outbreaks of COVID-19. You can find up-to-date information on the Center for Disease Control Website and California Department of Public Health Website.

Know How It Spreads

• There is currently no vaccine to prevent Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)
• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person
  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 ft)
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, these droplets land in the mouth or noses of people nearby or possibly inhaled through the lungs. 

If You Have Cold or Virus-Like Symptoms:

• Watch for symptoms: stay home if you have respiratory symptoms (coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath) and/or temperature above 100.4F. Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure (based on previous CoV viruses).
• Cover or shield mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing. 
• Do not use bare hands, throw tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• Avoid close contact with others.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
• If you develop warning signs for COVID-19, call your healthcare provider and seek medical care (if coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath) and share recent travel and contact history with healthcare provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, please call 211 for assistance finding medical care near you.

Practice Social Distancing:

• Social distancing is a practice recommended by public health officials to stop or slow the spread of contagious diseases and is taken to restrict when and where people can gather and involves limiting large groups of people coming together.
• In line with guidance from local Districts, the California Department of Public Health, and County Departments of Public Health, we will implement the following measures in our schools and after school programs, effective immediately:
  • All gatherings involving 25 people or more are postponed or cancelled.
  • All use of school facilities by outside organizations and all outside vendor partnerships is cancelled.
  • Any student, staff or visitor who is experiencing virus-like symptoms, or who has traveled to Europe or Asia in the past 14 days will not be allowed on school campuses (for meal service) or in administrative offices.