COMING TOGETHER IN A

TIME OF EMERGENCY

Our team has compiled important information and resources to help you navigate these difficult and trying times. The best advice we can give is not to panic, stay informed, and by working together and following these safety protocols, we will get through this together.

What You Need to Know

Important information for the City of Los Angeles during COVID-19 emergency.

Sign up here to get the free FDA approved vaccine: https://myturn.ca.gov/

CA State Guidelines on COVID-19 vaccines:
https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/

To assist residential renters who have been economically impacted by the Coronavirus, the Mayor and the City Council have adopted tenant protections on evictions and rent increases in the City of Los Angeles.
https://housing.lacity.org/highlights/renter-protections

No utilities will be shut off in the City of Los Angeles during this local emergency period. City officials have stated the water is safe to drink.
For the latest news on support with your utilities please visit these sites:
https://lacontroller.org/covid-19-utilities-and-internet/
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/covid19protections/

All COVID-19 California State Guidelines can be found here: https://covid19.ca.gov/

Free testing for COVID-19 can be found here:
https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/

How Can I Protect Myself?

A healthy body with a robust immune system is the best defense against all illness including coronavirus.

Social Distancing
If you feel you need to isolate or have someone in your home who is sick, please see the guidelines from LA County Health Department:
publichealth.lacounty.gov/COVHomeCare.pdf.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes the following recommendations:

  • Wear a mask at all times indoors and in any crowded space.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds
 or use alcohol hand gels.
  • Avoid touching your eyes and face unless your hands are clean.
  • Frequently clean common surfaces including door nobs, light switches gas pumps, mailboxes, gym equipment, etc. with
 disinfectant wipes or sprays.
  • If exposed to the virus, immediately isolate and contact your health professional.
  • Social Distancing
    Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Stay at home and when you must venture out, stay 6 feet away from other people.If you feel you need to isolate or have someone in your home who is sick, please see the guidelines from LA County Health Department:
    publichealth.lacounty.gov/COVHomeCare.pdf
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes the following recommendations:
  • Wear a mask at all times indoors and in any crowded space.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds
 or use alcohol hand gels.
  • Avoid touching your eyes and face unless your hands are clean.
  • Frequently clean common surfaces including door nobs, light switches gas pumps, mailboxes, gym equipment, etc. with
 disinfectant wipes or sprays.
  • Other Recommendations:
    The virus does not survive in hot temperatures. Drinking hot liquids, using a sauna or steam can help prevent the spread of the virus.
    If you have a runny nose without a fever, you might just have a cold. Don’t panic. But if symptoms worsen, seek medical help.
    The virus can survive on clothing for 6-12 hours. Wash with hot water and laundry detergent. Bleach or Oxy-clean may be added but aren’t necessary.The virus will survive on metal surfaces for 12 hours, so keep any metal surfaces clean with an anti-viral, antibacterial solution, bleach, or alcohol.Gargle and do a nasal rinse with salt water to clear any bacteria or viruses from your nasopharynx and throat.Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.Any supplements that help support
    your
 immune system are good, such as:

    Vitamin D 5000 IU, take daily
    Vitamin C, dosage depends on your tolerance
    Zinc
    Immune Mushrooms
    Andrographis
    Elderberry
    Bee Propolis
    Colloidal Silver 30ppm
    Note: Although there is no data that Colloidal Silver will help, it does have a history of antiviral activity and can be used as a spray for throat and mouth.

The Facts

What is COVID-19?
The COVID-19 viral pandemic is caused by a type of RNA virus called a coronavirus. The name comes from the appearance of a halo or corona surrounding virus particles when viewed through an electron microscope. An RNA virus, as the name implies, has RNA rather than DNA as its genetic material. RNA viruses commonly cause respiratory infections like colds and the flu. The COVID-19 coronavirus is similar in many ways to the influenza virus, causing fever, cough and muscle weakness, but it has a much higher complication rate including pneumonia and respiratory distress, which if not treated, can be fatal. Currently, there is no specific treatment nor is there a vaccine, but the research is promising. Some existing antiviral treatments may be effective and are being looked into, but nothing is proven as of yet.

How Does the Virus Infect People?
The virus is spread person to person directly through virus particles expelled into the air from say a cough, or indirectly through contact with viral particles that have previously landed on surfaces, clothing or objects like a doorknob handled by someone infected with the virus. A person is considered contagious 24 hours before symptoms appear, and until 48 hours after they cease. Once infected, the incubation period is anywhere from 2-14 days. Although one may not be contagious until just before they experience symptoms, if you’ve had contact with someone who has tested positive, it is recommended to closely monitor symptoms, self-quarantine and/or get tested if symptoms appear.

The initial symptoms for the coronavirus resemble the flu: high fever (>101) and a dry cough, often accompanied by sore throat and headache. Stuffy nose and sneezing, which commonly accompany colds and seasonal allergies, are generally not present and can be used to differentiate the conditions. If shortness of breath or worsening breathing problems develop, this could be a sign that the virus is getting worse and would be a reason to seek immediate medical care.

Are Doctors Getting Vaccinated?
“As Of June 11, 2021 over 96% of American doctors are fully vaccinated against COVID-19” – The American Medical Association

Will the COVID-19 Vaccine Make Me Sick?
“The COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines teach your immune system to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever and chills. These symptoms are normal and are signs that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.” – Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

How Serious is This? Who Should Worry?
The emergence of the virus into our society has sparked a great deal of fear since so much is unknown. We do know that the virus spreads about twice as fast as the flu but not nearly as fast as the measles or other childhood illnesses. According to the WHO, approximately 85% of cases will be relatively mild and will not require hospital care. However, as many as 10-15% of people who catch this illness will progress to pneumonia and need to be hospitalized. Those most at risk are older individuals (>60 y/o), especially those with a history of lung problems like COPD or asthma, smokers, and those with concurrent medical problems like diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. Individuals who are taking medications that affect the immune system like biologics, prednisone or many anti-cancer treatments are also at risk. Individuals less than 50 years of age who are non-smokers and generally in good health have a very low risk of developing life-threatening complications. The virus does not specifically target young children or infants, but they are not immune and should be closely monitored for symptoms.

Has the FDA Approved the COVID-19 Vaccine?
“The FDA has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the meticulously collected evidence from more than 100 million vaccinated Americans is clear: The vaccines we have to defeat COVID-19 are safe, effective, and the only way out of this pandemic.” – The American Medical Association (AMA)

“The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine received full approval by the FDA on Aug. 23, 2021. All medications issued in any hospital or by any medical practitioner in the USA must be FDA approved.” – Johns Hopkins Medicine

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?
The three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. are safe and effective in helping prevent serious disease or death due to the coronavirus.

“With more than 300 million doses administered in the United States and nearly 4 billion doses administered worldwide, we know the vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19. Increased vaccinations among health care personnel will not only reduce the spread of COVID-19 but also reduce the harmful toll this virus is taking within the health care workforce and those we are striving to serve.” – The American Medical Association (AMA)

Why Should I Get Vaccinated?
“Unless a significant percentage of our population is vaccinated against COVID-19, we could be stuck fighting this virus for many more months or even years to come.” – Dr. Harmon The American Medical Association (AMA)

For more information on the Myths & Facts download the following PDF:

RESOURCES FOR YOUTH

  • Free Internet Access: Spectrum is providing free internet access to household with students K-12 and college students for 60 days.
    Call to enroll 844.488.8395
  • Free Storage: UHAUL is offering free storage for a month to help college students impacts by COVID-19. Students will need to show a student ID.
  • For those in need of help, please email: youth@asenseofhome.org

Get Involved

A Sense of Home strives to prevent homelessness by creating first-ever homes and a community for youth aging out of foster care.

Covid 19 Resources - A Sense of Home
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