Councilman Gil Cedillo said he is placing 30 sidewalk signs and distributing thousands of fliers to people Thursday and Friday in Westlake and Pico-Union to inform residents of how to protect themselves against COVID-19.
Cedillo said in his Council District 1, positive COVID-19 cases and deaths related to the virus have been “skyrocketing.”
As of Tuesday, Cedillo said there have been 7,018 positive cases and 314 deaths recorded throughout Council District 1, with Westlake suffering 1,583 positive cases and 112 deaths, and Pico-Union seeing 1,149 positive cases and 71 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
“We think it’s very important to make people aware of the dangers that exist right now during the pandemic,” Cedillo said. “There’s no value in soft-selling the conditions that we’re in. Particularly in this part of my district, we’re met with challenges of poverty, immigration status and density. Those factors add to the possibility and probability that you’ll be adversely impacted by COVID-19.”
Cedillo said the signs are meant to inform residents of the best ways to protect themselves and others by wearing a mask, social distancing, frequent hand-washing and, when necessary, self-quarantining and getting a COVID-19 test.
The signs will be located at the intersection of Sixth Street and Bonnie Brae; Alvarado Street from Seventh Street to Sixth Street; the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Union Avenue; and the intersection of Pico and Vermont Avenue.
The councilman said his office has also distributed 10,000 face coverings, 2,460 gallons of hand sanitizer and 40 gallons of surface disinfectant to his constituents.
“We must recognize this as the pandemic that it is, and we can’t be political about it. We can’t take it lightly,” Cedillo said.
Cedillo said he will be joined during his effort by Jazmin Valenzuela and Mayra Hernandez of the Catalina Walton Neighborhood Association, as well as Margarita Alvarez, executive director of Central City Neighborhood Partners.