COVID-19 resources and updates

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March 13, 2020

Dear Options for Learning families and providers,

I am reaching out to you with an update on our efforts to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in our centers and office locations. While there has been only a few identified cases of the virus in Los Angeles County, none have any known connection to our centers or offices.

At Options for Learning, we are committed to protecting the health and well-being of our children, families, and staff. We are also supportive of local health officials as they work to contain the virus. We will continue to make thoughtful decisions based on the latest science-based information and guided by our agency’s mission to serve children and families.

We have implemented a series of preventative health measures in our classrooms and offices based on recommendations from public health officials and the California Department of Education. We encourage you to follow these same guidelines:

• Wash hands frequently (wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, roughly the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice) and dry hands completely, especially after arrivals and departures, before meals, after outdoor activities, after using the restroom, and after coughing and sneezing. 
• If soap is not available, adults may use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% to 95% alcohol (hand sanitizers should always remain out of the reach of children). 
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow and immediately dispose of the tissue and wash your hands. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 
• Routinely and robustly clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs, banisters, countertops, toys, faucet handles, desks, computer mouse, keyboard, and phones. 
• Stay home when you are sick (don’t wait until you are VERY sick). Do not return to class or work until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours as recommended by the County of Los Angeles’ Public Health Department.

We understand that this is a difficult and uncertain time, but we encourage children’s continued attendance in care as well as your ongoing engagement with our agency. Public health officials have told us it is appropriate for child care programs and schools to remain open and to follow as normal a schedule as possible. In alignment with area school districts, we have implemented a no-visitor policy at our sites (parents and guardians are, of course, welcome to drop off and pick up their children).

Information from health officials is being updated daily, so we encourage you to visit our website at www.optionsforlearning.org for our most current information regarding COVID-19. There you will find information about any related policies, program status updates, and recommended resources. You may also call our dedicated line at 626-209-2519 for general inquiries.

We thank you for your continued patience and understanding and for partnering with us in the care and education of your children.

Paul Pulver, CEO

LA COUNTY ALERTS PUBLIC ABOUT INCREASING COVID-19 SCAMS, WARNS OF FRAUDULENT WEBSITES, EMAILS AND DONATION REQUESTS

Los Angeles, CA (Tues., March 24, 2020)-- Los Angeles County residents are reminded of several fraud schemes designed to prey on the vulnerable in the midst of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Reports of malicious websites, email schemes, and suspicious links have come to the attention of law enforcement and public officials. “Malicious actors can prey upon those that are distracted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and use it to their advantage,” stated Los Angeles County Chief Information Officer William Kehoe. “The public needs to be mindful and careful, and avoid websites, phishing emails, and scams that engage people through false information about the health crisis, and steal personal user information and data. By clicking on fraudulent weblinks, hackers can deliver malware and then gain access to passwords, browsing information, credit card numbers, and other personal information. We all need to stay vigilant.” Currently, there are several Coronavirus tracking and mapping sites that are actually malware websites. Instead of clicking on these links, cybersecurity experts advise that website users should instead hover over the link to verify the uniform resource locator (URL) before moving forward. Online hackers may also send users emails from fraudulent accounts impersonating official websites and doctors, or offering medical supplies and services. A trusted COVID-19 mapping resource is the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Global Map, which can be found at coronavirus.jhu.edu. Additionally, there are several websites the County of Los Angeles recommends for accurate, up-to-date information on COVID-19. The following is a list of sites: 

• County of Los Angeles: covid19.lacounty.gov
• County of Los Angeles Public Health: publichealth.lacounty.gov 
• California Department of Public Health: cdph.ca.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov

As residents in Los Angeles County practice “Safer at Home” directives, they are spending more time at home and online. Scammers are also taking advantage of this change in circumstances by reaching out door-to-door asking for donations and fundraising contributions through cash, Bitcoin, or Paypal. The County of Los Angeles reminds residents that they are not required to open their door, and encourages everyone to not feel intimidated by a false sense of urgency to answer door-to-door solicitations. The following is a list of safety tips the public can follow:

• Avoid online advertising offers related to COVID-19 
• Decline door-to-door solicitations claiming COVID-19 fundraising 
• Do not click on emails and attachments that you do not recognize
• Visit trusted websites for COVID-19 related information

Everyone should remain vigilant and take these steps to avoid being victimized by malicious scammers trying to profit from the COVID-19 crisis. If you believe you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report the information to local law enforcement.