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Due to health concerns from hazardous and unhealthy air quality in smoke-impacted regions across LA County and to ensure the safety of both residents and staff at testing site, the following LA County COVID-19 testing sites will continue to be closed through the weekend:

The following testing sites will remain closed today, Saturday September 12^th:

• East LA College (Monterey Park)
• Pomona Fairplex Gate 17 (Pomona)
• San Gabriel Valley Airport (El Monte)
• Montebello Civic Center (Montebello)

The following testing sites will be closed tomorrow, Sunday September13^th:

• East LA College (Monterey Park)
• Pomona Fairplex Gate 17 (Pomona)
• San Gabriel Valley Airport (El Monte)
• College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita)

The LA County Department of Health Services continues to closely monitor the updated air quality index and advisories issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and will regularly reassess opening of the testing sites impacted by the local wildfires. Stay up to date by following the LA County Twitter account @CountyofLA and visit the LA County COVID-19 website https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/

All residents who had a testing appointment at an impacted testing site have been notified to reschedule their appointment. Same-day and next-day appointments are still available at testing sites across LA County.

For the latest information on testing site closures and to make an appointment for a COVID-19 test, please visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/   or call 2-1-1.

Today, the County of Los Angeles launched the COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certificate Program (CSCCP) to help educate and train business owners to comprehensively implement the LA County Department of Public Health COVID-19 safety directives.  

The CSCCP is a no-cost online training course that educates business owners on the essentials of the County Health Officer’s Orders and what they need to do to ensure that their business practices are aligned and in compliance with infection control and physical distancing requirements. After completing the training, businesses will receive a COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certificate that can be posted on storefronts. The training will be available in 13 languages and can be accessed online through the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 website.

This voluntary program offers business, employees and consumers alike the added reassurance that essential training has been completed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This training is highly recommended for both business owners and employees. Consumers are urged to look for a posted Safety Compliance Certificate at any businesses they visit. Businesses that do not participate are required to display Public Health COVID-19 Protocols in their storefronts.

Enforcement of all Health Officer Orders is managed by Public Health’s Environmental Health Division. Citations and/or fines may be imposed for lack of compliance with all Health Officer Orders.  Residents may report violations and non-compliant businesses by calling (888) 700-9995 (M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) or filing a complaint online.

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the County is doing to keep its residents safe, visit  covid19.lacounty.gov and follow us @CountyofLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Due to safety concerns from the unhealthy air quality in smoke-impacted regions across LA County, the following LA County COVID-19 testing sites will close today, Thursday, Sept. 10 and tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 11:

• College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita)
• East LA College (Monterey Park)
• Pomona Fairplex Gate 17 (Pomona)
• San Gabriel Valley Airport (El Monte)
• Montebello Civic Center (Montebello)
• Panorama City (Panorama)

All residents who had a testing appointment at an impacted testing site will be notified via email to reschedule their appointment. For residents who did not provide an email, a notification will be made via phone call. Same-day appointments are still available at testing sites across LA County. Residents who would like to make an appointment or reschedule their appointment at a convenient location not impacted by poor air quality should visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing or call 2-1-1.

Testing is also widely available within the provider community.  Residents who have a regular source of care should first seek testing from their healthcare provider if they are symptomatic or have a known positive exposure. Those without a regular provider can call the County’s 2-1-1 information line for assistance.

Smoke from the two major local wildfires – the El Dorado Fire burning in the San Bernardino Mountains, and the Bobcat Fire burning north of Azusa and Glendora in the Angeles National Forest – is producing substantial amounts of wildfire smoke, which can be harmful to your health. Symptoms from wildfire smoke include burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, headaches and illness (i.e., bronchitis). Those with sensitive conditions can experience difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, fatigue and chest pain. Please click here for a list of recommendations on how to protect your health from the harmful effects of the current unhealthy air quality.

For the latest information on testing site closures and to make an appointment for a COVID-19 test, please visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, County Department of Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, and Citizen CEO Andrew Frame appeared at a press conference at L.A. City Hall today to announce a partnership with SafePass, a mobile app that provides contact tracing capabilities for individuals throughout Los Angeles County.

SafePass will allow users to self-report their symptoms for COVID-19 and receive notifications and alerts directly from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. All contact tracing data is anonymous, private, encrypted, and deleted after 30 days by Citizen. Officials encouraged residents to download the app to expand local efforts to track COVID-19 for L.A. County’s 10 million residents.

“The County’s partnership with SafePass is a valuable tool to help slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout our region,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “The success of the SafePass app relies on a continued sense of community impact among our residents by asking individuals to do their part to protect themselves and their neighbors.”

“Contact tracing relies on residents sharing with us key information to identify close contacts, and today we are adding additional capacity for our program through SafePass,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “This new tool allows everyone to share responsibility for protecting each other, and I want to thank Citizen for their innovation and commitment to helping us slow the spread of COVID-19.”

“We have to deploy every tool at our disposal to halt the spread of COVID-19 –– from wearing masks to keeping our distance to avoiding large gatherings –– and contact tracing is an absolutely essential part of our effort to track this virus and save lives,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The Citizen SafePass app puts the power of public health in the palms of our hands, equipping us with another way to expand our tracing programs, bend the COVID curve in the right direction, protect our families and friends, and build on recent progress against this deadly pandemic.”

“We must continue to use all available resources, data, and technology to fight COVID-19,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “In addition to our face coverings and physical distancing, contact tracing is an important part of beating this global health crisis.”

“COVID-19 knows no City boundaries, so we are thankful to have such strong partnerships with our neighboring Cities and the County to better serve our community,” said City of Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek. “This app is another tool that our residents can use to empower themselves to best take care of their health, and the health of those around them.”

“It's promising to hear one of the greatest cities in America is embracing technology to fight this epidemic,” said Citizen CEO Andrew Frame. “With a possible second wave on the horizon, it's critical we prepare now for the future. The way to contain the virus until the vaccine arrives is to do our part by wearing masks, social distancing, contact tracing, and to get tested frequently through the free testing resources provided by the City of Los Angeles."

The Citizen SafePass mobile app complements the existing local COVID-19 response efforts in Los Angeles County by introducing an innovative tool that ramps up the critical contact tracing process. Following three months of testing with more than 700,000 users, SafePass was recently made available to users across the United States.

Using Bluetooth technology and anonymized data, SafePass tracks any close contacts with other users, and alerts them to potential exposures. Any users who have meaningful contact with another user who later tests positive for COVID-19 will receive a notification to get tested. The app also offers immediate access to eligible users for a free at-home testing kit for those who have been notified of exposure through the app and provides up to date information about all active testing sites in Los Angeles County (terms and conditions apply see https://citizen.com/tracing/tests). All location data is anonymized and deleted after 30 days. To learn more about SafePass, visit citizen.com/safepass.

The County of Los Angeles and City of Los Angeles have tested more than two million people since the start of the pandemic at testing sites located across the region. Similarly, over 2,600 County and City workers have been deployed by the L.A. County Public Health Department to conduct critical contact tracing services. For more information about available testing in Los Angeles, visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/ or coronavirus.lacity.org/testing.

With temperatures in parts of Los Angeles County expected to rise into the triple digits, various public facilities located throughout the County will serve as Emergency Cooling Centers starting on Wednesday, September 2nd. These centers provide members of the public who lack air conditioning at home with relief from the heat, free of charge.

“Offering free emergency heat relief is an important service to help keep vulnerable members of the public safe and healthy during heat waves,” stated Kevin McGowan, Director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management. “The County is collaborating with various communities, such as Azusa, Burbank, El Monte, Glendale, Glendora, Lancaster, La Puente, Los Angeles, Palmdale, Pasadena, Quartz Hill, San Dimas, San Fernando, Stevenson Ranch and Torrance to bring this support service to all residents at no cost. We jointly stand ready to provide anyone who needs to get out of the heat with a safe place to cool down.”

All Centers will operate in compliance with physical distancing and other COVID-19 safety criteria from the current Health Officer Order. They will be located in areas selected based on heat forecasts provided by the National Weather Service and impact to regions identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. More locations may be added or hours extended based on weather conditions. To obtain a list of the County’s Emergency Cooling Centers or view a map of these sites, visit ready.lacounty.gov/heat or dial 2-1-1.

Location Information, Dates and Hours of Operation:

Valleydale Park
5525 North Lark Ellen Avenue
Azusa, CA 91702
Friday, September 4 through Sunday, September 6
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Buena Vista Library
300 North Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91505
Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

El Monte Community Center
3130 Tyler Avenue
El Monte, CA 91731
Saturday, September 5 through Sunday, September 6
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Griffith Manor Park
1551 Flower Street
Glendale, CA 91201
Friday, September 4 AND Tuesday, September 8
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Pacific Community Center (entrance near pickleball court)
501 South Pacific Avenue
Glendale, CA 91204
Saturday, September 5 through Monday, September 7
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Crowther Teen & Family Center
241 West Dawson Avenue
Glendora, CA 91740
Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Museum of Art and History
665 West Lancaster Boulevard
Lancaster, CA 93534
ONGOING
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunshine Park
515 Deepmead Avenue
La Puente, CA 91744
Friday, September 4 through Sunday, September 6
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Salazar Park
3864 Whittier Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90023
Friday, September 4 through Sunday, September 6
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Chimbole Cultural Center
38350 Sierra Highway
Palmdale, CA 93550
Wednesday, September 2 through Tuesday, September 8
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Robinson Park
1081 North Fair Oaks Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91003
Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Quartz Hill Library
5040 West Avenue M-2
Quartz Hill, CA 93356
Wednesday, September 2 through Sunday, September 6
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Senior Center / Community Center
201 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773
Thursday, September 3 through Thursday, September 10
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Las Palmas Park
505 South Huntington Street
San Fernando, CA 91340
Friday, September 4 through Tuesday, September 8
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Stevenson Ranch Library
25950 The Old Road
Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381
Wednesday, September 2 through Sunday, September 6
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Ken Miller Recreational Center
3341 Torrance Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90503
Saturday, September 5 through Sunday, September 6
12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The County also reminds all members of the public to take the following extra precautions during hot weather:

• Avoid the sun – stay indoors from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. when the burning rays are strongest.
• Drink plenty of fluids – 2 to 4 glasses of water every hour during times of extreme heat.
• Replace salt and minerals – sweating removes salt and minerals from your body, so replenish these nutrients with low sugar fruit juices or sports drinks during exercise or when working outside.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Pace yourself – reduce physical activity and avoid exercising outdoors during peak heat hours.
• Wear appropriate clothing – wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-colored lightweight, loose-fitting clothes when you are outdoors.
• Stay cool indoors during peak hours – set your air conditioner between 75° to 80°. If you don’t have air conditioning, take a cool shower twice a day and/or visit a County Emergency Cooling Center. Find a local emergency cooling center at lacounty.gov/heat.
• Monitor those at high risk – check on elderly neighbors, family members and friends who do not have air conditioning. Infants and children up to 4 years old, people who overexert during work (e.g. construction workers) and people 65 years and older are at the highest risk of heat-related illnesses.
• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 if you need to be in the sun.
• Keep pets indoors – heat also affects your pets, so please keep them indoors. If they will be outside, make sure they have plenty of water and a shaded area to help them keep cool.

For more information on heat-related illnesses and prevention, please visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s website at publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Today, the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, the LA County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS), and the Commission on Human Relations jointly announced the launch of the “L.A. vs Hate” initiative to report and end incidents of hate and hate crimes in LA County. This announcement comes as 211-LA continues to receive reports of hate – from January through July 2020, 256 total calls reporting hate, including 27 calls as a result of COVID-19 – and is part of a multi-year mission by the Board of Supervisors to end acts of hate in the County.

For more information on the “L.A. vs Hate” initiative, including shareable community-centric graphics ready-made for social media, please click here.

“Los Angeles County stands united as a voice for victims of crime,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said. “It’s our duty and privilege to join in this effort to encourage acceptance and advocate for victims. When our communities speak up for their neighbors, we are all stronger.”

“In Los Angeles County, there is no place for hate. Now more than ever, we must all work together to combat the pandemic and take care of one another. The alarming spike in hate incidents in our County, particularly aimed at our Asian Pacific Islander communities and communities of color, requires a robust and creative response. That’s why I am proud of the LA vs Hate campaign’s innovation for partnering with local artists and organizations like Las Fotos Project to perform art interventions and produce marketing materials which aim to combat hate,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis.

“The L.A. vs Hate initiative is just one of the many strategies the County has embarked upon to dismantle racism and bias in our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and community gathering places,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “This work preceded recently elevated demands for racial justice and aligns with the County’s current efforts to establish an antiracist policy agenda. The L.A. vs Hate initiative provides every Angeleno with tangible actions to undertake if they witness or are victimized by a hate crime or bias-motivated incident.”

“Over the last four years, we have watched as a few prominent Americans have repeatedly condoned hate speech and violence against others,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “This campaign reasserts that we are a nation of empathy, inclusion, tolerance and love, and provides a creative counterforce to hateful messages that have grown more and more frequent and loud.”

“Even before this pandemic began, hate crimes in LA County were on the rise, reaching their highest point in a decade last year,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “All of our residents need to know they are valued, that they belong, and that the County is taking action to protect them and respond to this growing threat. By stressing to our local communities the importance of reporting hate and connecting hate victims with supportive services, the LA vs. Hate campaign is one way that we will achieve that goal."

The “L.A. vs Hate” campaign has three components:

1. a marketing campaign to provide awareness of the dangers of hate and the importance of reporting hate;
2. the ability to report acts of hate and bias motivated bullying, and to connect victims with needed resources via case managers, by calling 211-LA; and
3. a network of agencies to provide assistance and prevention strategies to prevent hate.

By inviting artists and their communities to participate in art interventions inspired by the principles of “L.A. vs Hate,” the campaign uses art and community organizing to reach County residents in an authentic and meaningful way. Through this virtual medium, the campaign builds understanding within individual, diverse communities about what constitutes hate and how to report it.

“Standing up to hate is not easy - but by supporting our communities in their efforts to resist and report hate, we are confident that L.A. County will become a more safe and inclusive space for the more than 10 million people who live here,” said Robin Toma, Executive Director of the LA County Commission on Human Relations.

The strategies and programs offered by the network partner agencies reflect deep experience in serving a wide range of diverse County residents, including those vulnerable communities who are particularly targeted for hate acts in the largest number of 211 calls: youth of color, immigrants, disabled youth, and since COVID-19 related backlash, Asian-Americans. Some of the network partner agencies include the Anti-Defamation League; Antelope Valley Partners for Health; Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council; Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of L.A. (CHIRLA); Hate Violence Prevention Partnership of L.A. (includes Bienestar, Brotherhood Crusade, California Conference for Equality & Justice, and Muslim Public Affairs Council); Not In Our Town; and San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, Inc.

“ADL Los Angeles is proud to be a part of L.A. vs. Hate as it reflects ADL’s tradition of calling out what divides us and shining a light on what unites the diverse communities that are the fabric of Los Angeles. L.A. vs. Hate will empower communities to identify hate and to mobilize effectively to counteract it, “ said Matt Friedman, the Senior Associate Regional Director for ADL Pacific Southwest Region.

Individuals reporting to 211-LA may choose to report anonymously. Callers are also offered the option to be referred to follow up services including legal aid, trauma counseling, and advocacy support. In the first six months of this year, 87% of residents calling 211-LA to report hate requested follow up services.

For over 70 years, the LA County Commission on Human Relations has worked to inform, support, train, and mobilize county residents to transform prejudice into acceptance, tranquility into justice, and hostility into peace.