Coronavirus Resources
Check PublicHealth.LACounty.Gov for the most up to date information.
Congresswoman Barragán and her staff are continuing to monitor the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and are in regular contact with federal, state and local public health officials.
Congresswoman Barragán has hosted hosted telephone town hall meetings with local experts to answer questions you have about this outbreak.
To read/listen to past telephone town halls, click here.
Families First – COVID-19 Constituent Services Resources Toolkit
Since the beginning of the epidemic, House Democrats have focused on ensuring our nation’s response puts workers and families first: their health, their wages and their well-being.
Click here to view the toolkit.
What the CARES Act Means to You
The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act became law on March 27. It will provide economic help to millions of Americans – and it might help you.
Stimulus Payments
If you have a Social Security number and earn less than $75,000 a year, you can expect one stimulus payment of $1,200. Families can receive up to $500 per child 16-years old or younger. People earning between $75,000 and $99,000 will receive smaller amounts.
Older Americans who don’t file tax returns but receive Social Security will receive a payment if their income qualifies. College students who are not claimed as a dependent by anyone else are also eligible.
If you have direct deposit from the IRS or Social Security, the money will simply deposit into your bank account starting in three weeks. If you do not have direct deposit with the IRS or Social Security, please make sure the IRS has your current address on file so a check may be mailed to you. Paper checks may take up to five months to be delivered.
If you are on SSI, stay tuned for more guidance on what the IRS will require be filed.
Unemployment Insurance
California will continue to pay unemployment benefits to people who qualify. The CARES Act provides that the federal government will pay you an additional $600 per week on top of what you qualify to receive from the state of California. The federal $600 weekly benefit will last for four months.
While freelancers, independent contractors and self-employed people do not usually qualify for unemployment benefits, the CARES Act allows those individuals to qualify at this time.
To apply, click here to go to the State of California’s Employment Development Department.
Small Business
The CARES Act includes the Paycheck Protection Program to help businesses keep their workers employed during the COVID-19 crisis.
It will provide up to $10 million for each qualified small business to help maintain payroll, keep workers on the books, or pay for rent or other overhead charges.
The program includes loan forgiveness covering costs of certain business expenses over the first eight weeks of the loan. It is expected that at least 75% of the costs forgiven would come from payroll.
Small businesses, including non-profits, veterans’ organizations, tribal concerns, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals with 500 or fewer employees are eligible for these loans. They have a 1.0% interest rate, require no collateral, and the first payment is deferred for six months.
Click here to learn how to apply.
This Washington Post story answers a number of important questions about applying for these small business loans.
COVID-19 Testing Centers & Request for Medical Professionals
COVID-19 Testing: The City of Los Angeles is providing COVID-19 tests for Angelenos. These tests are strictly limited to residents of Los Angeles who are in the most high-risk categories. Individuals eligible for testing at this time include:
- Those with symptoms who are 65 and older
- Those with symptoms who have underlying chronic health conditions
- Those who are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period due to a confirmed COVID-19 exposure (with more than 7 days of quarantine remaining)
- To see if you’re eligible for a test please visit: lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs
Request for Medical Professionals: There is an urgent need for medical professionals to be on-hand. The Mayor’s office has set up a special volunteer portal for medical professionals willing to offer any medical or healthcare services. Please sign up to volunteer at: coronavirus.lacity.org/medicalworker.
What the CARES Act Means to You
The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act became law on March 27. It will provide economic help to millions of Americans – and it might help you.
Stimulus Payments
If you have a Social Security number and earn less than $75,000 a year, you can expect one stimulus payment of $1,200. Families can receive up to $500 per child 16-years old or younger. People earning between $75,000 and $99,000 will receive smaller amounts.
Older Americans who don’t file tax returns but receive Social Security will receive a payment if their income qualifies. College students who are not claimed as a dependent by anyone else are also eligible.
If you have direct deposit from the IRS or Social Security, the money will simply deposit into your bank account starting in three weeks. If you do not have direct deposit with the IRS or Social Security, please make sure the IRS has your current address on file so a check may be mailed to you. Paper checks may take up to five months to be delivered.
If you are on SSI, stay tuned for more guidance on what the IRS will require be filed.
Unemployment Insurance
California will continue to pay unemployment benefits to people who qualify. The CARES Act provides that the federal government will pay you an additional $600 per week on top of what you qualify to receive from the state of California. The federal $600 weekly benefit will last for four months.
While freelancers, independent contractors and self-employed people do not usually qualify for unemployment benefits, the CARES Act allows those individuals to qualify at this time.
To apply, click here to go to the State of California’s Employment Development Department.
Small Business
The CARES Act includes the Paycheck Protection Program to help businesses keep their workers employed during the COVID-19 crisis.
It will provide up to $10 million for each qualified small business to help maintain payroll, keep workers on the books, or pay for rent or other overhead charges.
The program includes loan forgiveness covering costs of certain business expenses over the first eight weeks of the loan. It is expected that at least 75% of the costs forgiven would come from payroll.
Small businesses, including non-profits, veterans’ organizations, tribal concerns, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals with 500 or fewer employees are eligible for these loans. They have a 1.0% interest rate, require no collateral, and the first payment is deferred for six months.
Click here to learn how to apply.
This Washington Post story answers a number of important questions about applying for these small business loans.
LA’s Eviction Moratorium: What You Need to Know
To support residential and commercial renters impacted by COVID-19, the City of Los Angeles recently issued a temporary Eviction Moratorium. To be clear: renters are still obligated to pay lawfully charged rent. However, during this period, tenants may not be evicted by their landlords for failure to pay rent due to the financial impacts related to COVID-19. The circumstances covered for non-payment of rent may include:
- Loss of income due to workplace closure or reduced hours due to COVID-19
- Loss of income or childcare expenditures due to school closures
- Health care expenditures stemming from COVID-19 infection of the tenant or a member of the tenant’s household who is ill with COVID-19
- Reasonable expenditures stemming from government ordered emergency measures.
Tenants will have up to six months following the expiration of the local emergency to repay any back rent due.
For more information, please visit the Housing + Community Investment Development website or call 866-557-RENT OR 866-557-7368 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, or by filing a complaint online at www.hcidla.lacity.org/File-a-Complaint
The California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health is ordering all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors. This update clarifies definitions of “Essential Businesses.”
Read Governor Newsom’s Executive Order (pdf)
For more information about the Stay at Home order and to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions, please click here
For updated information from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health about this outbreak, please visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/ or call 211. Please note that many people are likely to call 211 so be prepared for increased wait times and remember that this is not a hotline reserved for the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Los Angeles County has issued the Safer at Home Order for Control of COVID-19 in order to slow the spread of this virus. We all need to do our part and come together as a community by staying at home as much as possible. For more information regarding this order and for the definition of “Essential Businesses” click here.
What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. Coronaviruses are common, and they include the common cold, but COVID-19 is a new strain.
What are the symptoms and how does it spread?
The most common symptoms include fever, cough and increasingly severe respiratory symptoms (trouble breathing). Our experience to date is that most people who are exposed to the virus, more than 80%, have mild or no symptoms. Some people, however, may have more complicated symptoms, including pneumonia or lung inflammation.
For confirmed COVID-19 cases, reported illnesses have ranged from mild to severe symptoms, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Current research suggests that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
Am I at risk of contracting COVID-19?
It is important to know that the risk of COVID-19 to the general public in the United States continues to remain low and efforts are being undertaken to keep it that way. With that said, public health officials believe the situation will get worse. How much worse, depends not only on the response of local, state and federal public health officials, but on the public at large.
As mentioned above, some people are more at-risk of severe health effects from COVID-19. This includes but is not limited to those over 60 years of age, with growing risk as age increases; people with respiratory conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema; people with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes; and those who are immune-compromised, such as people in cancer treatment or with HIV/AIDS.
How can I help protect myself, my family, and my community?
Every person has a role to play in protecting themselves and helping prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here’s what you can do:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, & mouth
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw tissue in the trash
- Use a regular household cleaning spray/wipe to clean & disinfect frequently touched objects & surfaces
- Wash your hands often with soap & water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
Are there people with COVID-19 in Los Angeles County?
Yes. For the most current case information, visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website here.
What is Congress doing?
- The Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law on March 18. It ensures all testing for Coronavirus will be free, protects access to nutritious meals for low-income students who might miss meals because schools are closed, and expands unemployment insurance. The bill also expands paid sick leave to some workers who have been impacted by the coronavirus. My Democratic colleagues and I are fighting to further expand the pool of Americans who get paid sick leave.
- Congress is now working on a new bill to focus on the economic challenges this pandemic is causing for workers and families. Many Americans need – or will need – financial relief, and this legislation aims at putting money into their hands. I support a plan to make direct payments to the people.
- The Administration directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to suspend evictions and foreclosures through April.
I am a health professional. Where do I find resources on how to treat my patients and where to report cases?
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has specific resources for doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, including Identifying and Managing Suspect Patients; Testing, Reporting, Infection Prevention and specific guidance for care centers located here. Health professionals can also sign up for the Los Angeles County Health Alert Network (LAHAN) here.
Information for Workers
Sick or Quarantined
In California, if you need access to paid family, medical, or sick leave, you should visit or contact the California Department of Employment Development at edd.ca.gov or call 1-877-238-4373 to contact a Paid Family Leave representative.
If you cannot work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), you can file for Disability Insurance (DI). DI provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have total or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. For guidance on the disease, visit the California Department of Public Health website.
You can find more information from the California Department of Employment Development about disability benefits or paid family leave along with information about unemployment insurance benefits here: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/faqs.htm
Caretakers
If you are unable to work because you are caring for a sick or quarantined relative with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), you can file for Paid Family Leave (PFL). PFL offers up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a total or partial loss of wages because they need time off to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Benefit amounts are approximately 60 to 70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50 to $1,300 per week.
Reduced Working Hours
If your employer has reduced your hours or closed operations due to COVID-19, you can file for Unemployment Insurance (UI). UI provides partial payments of wage replacement benefits to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. Workers who are temporarily unemployed due to COVID-19 and expected to return to work with their employer in a few weeks are not required to actively seek work every week. However, they must remain capable and available and ready to work during their unemployment for each claimed benefit week and meet all other eligibility criteria. Eligible individuals can receive benefits ranging from $40 to $450 per week.
Information for Employers
Occupational Health and Safety
For information on how to protect workers from COVID-19, see OSHA’s Guide to Measures to Prevent Workers’ Exposure to the Coronavirus. Businesses and employers can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for help with planning and responding to COVID-19.
Reduced Working Hours
Employers experiencing a slowdown in their business or services as a result of the impact of the coronavirus on the economy can apply for the UI Work Sharing Program. This program allows employers to seek an alternative to layoffs: by reducing their hours and wages that can be partially offset by UI benefits, employers can retain their trained employees. Employer workers who are approved to participate in the Work Sharing Program receive the percentage of their weekly UI benefit amount based on the percentage of hours and reduced wages, not to exceed 60 percent. Visit the Work Sharing program to learn more about your employer and employee benefits, and how to apply.
Possible Closing or Layoffs
Employers planning a major closure or layoffs as a result of the coronavirus can get help through the Rapid Response program. Rapid Response teams will meet with you to discuss your needs, help prevent potential layoffs, and provide immediate on-site services to assist workers facing job losses. For more information, see the Rapid Response Services for Business Data Sheet (DE 87144RRB) (PDF) or contact the California Local Employment Center in the United States.
Tax Assistance Information
The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced on Friday that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax. The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced on Friday that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax.
Employers experiencing difficulties as a result of COVID-19 can request an extension of time of up to 60 days from EDD to submit their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. A written extension request must be received within 60 days from the original late payment or return date.
For questions, employers can call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center.
- Free call from the USA. USA Or Canada: 1-888-745-3886
- Hearing impaired (TTY): 1-800-547-9565
- Outside the US USA or Canada: 1-916-464-3502
Health Insurance Information
Anyone who is uninsured and meets eligibility requirements for health care coverage through Covered California can sign up in the new open enrollment period through June 30, 2020. This is an important step to ensure Californians who lose coverage through an employer, or who are otherwise uninsured, have the opportunity to enroll in coverage. The California Department of Health Care Services also announced new steps to help those eligible for Medi-Cal sign-up. Learn more here.
Student Loan Information
All borrowers with federally held student loans through the U.S. Department of Education will automatically have their interest rates set to 0% for a period of at least 60 days starting March 13th. In addition, each of these borrowers will have the option to suspend their payments for at least two months to allow them greater flexibility during the national emergency.
Student loans can come from many sources, and borrowers should contact their own lender(s) to discuss what their individual situations may be. Learn more about the Department of Education action here.
Information for Parents of LAUSD Students
Superintendent Austin Beutner announced on March 23rd that Los Angeles Unified School District students and teachers will remain out of their classrooms until at least May 1st. Los Angeles Unified, in partnership with the Red Cross, will continue to provide nutritious meals to all students in need during the temporary closure of schools. Grab & Go food centers will be open from Wednesday, March 18 and will be available from Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. at 10 a.m. To find the nearest Grab & Go food center to you, click here: https://achieve.lausd.net/resources.
Information for K-12 Parents and Students
Los Angeles Unified School District:
- Closed schools starting March 16 through May 1
- Opened 60 Grab & Go centers to provide 2 meals per student weekdays 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. To find a location near you, click here.
- Created a “Students most in need” fund that will be used to provide meals and urgently needed supplies for students and family members. Funds will also be used to address the digital divide, providing devices and digital libraries and books to enable students to continue learning during the crisis caused by COVID-19.
- Los Angeles Unified School District and Verizon announced (March 23) that they reached an agreement to provide Internet connectivity for all students who have no Internet connectivity at home.
Long Beach Unified School District:
- Closed schools starting March 16 will resume at least on April 20.
- The district sent home learning plans and resources for students on Monday, March 23; the lessons will not be graded. Material will cover lessons up to April 9
- Those under age 18 — whether or not they attend the district — can head to any Long Beach public school except Beach/Reid, Browning, CAMS and Millikan high schools; PAAL; Stanford Middle School; Lowell and Naples elementary schools; and Renaissance School for the Arts and Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science for a free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch.
- Kids will be able to pick up both a lunch and a breakfast for the next day during the 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.time frame.
Lynwood Unified School District
- Formed an emergency preparedness and response taskforce on 3/1 to prepare for possible school closures
- Closed from March 16- May 5, all employees paid through closure with essential classified staff receiving hazard pay
- Working with 2 local churches and regional food bank to expand access to food for the community and assisting in ensuring seniors have access to food and personal supplies
- Creating community food pantry
- Donating PPE from biomedical program to SEIU-UHW in Lynwood
- Lynwood Unified will provide food services to the community’s children, ages 1-18, Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
- Provided over 6,000 meals in one day (3/20)
- District purchased additional tablets and laptops for students and staff that need them.
- Student packets were prepared for high school families to easily pick up, while K-8
- Students received a workbook with integrated English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. There are several online programs available for access on the resources page of their website. Additionally, schools are offering live readings and fun assignments via their social media pages
- Partnering with T-Mobile to provide hotspots for students without internet access at home
Compton Unified School District:
- Closed March 16 through April 19
- All employees will be paid through the closure
- Students and youth 18 and younger are now able to pick up breakfast and lunch at once. The hours of distribution will change to 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. only.
- Staff has also been on hand to respond to calls from all members of the community, including staff and parents, regarding our efforts to ensure efficient District operations and safety.
- Learning packets for each grade; 2 weeks of student work https://www.compton.k12.ca.us/departments/educational-services/prek-12-education-services/learning-packets
- Variety of online programs accessible for students
