Los Angeles County

There are 6,360 cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County as of April 6, with 147 deaths reported. This number includes 198 cases in Long Beach and 58 in Pasadena. The City of Glendale now has 129 cases of COVID-19, La Cañada Flintridge has 14 cases, Sunland has 13 cases and Tujunga has 10 cases. In the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, the Angeles National Forest has zero cases and La Crescenta-Montrose has five.

Adventist Health

Adventist Health announced today, Monday, April 6, its launch of the COVID-19 Virtual Assistant and Symptom Checker on the Adventist Health website, an easy and accessible way to check symptoms and obtain information about COVID-19 via online chat. 

“During this unprecedented time of uncertainty and constant change, Adventist Health understands the essential need and our responsibility to provide up-to-date information and support to the communities we serve,” said Ramesh Nathan, medical director of infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship with Adventist Health. “We know patients find these resources to be helpful, and this online tool can provide an even quicker response to those seeking information.” 

Adventist Health worked with GYANT, a digital health company that specializes in AI virtual assistants for health systems, to develop the COVID-19 Virtual Assistant and Symptom Checker. 

“We developed our COVID-19 Screener and Emergency Response Assistant to help hospitals and health systems manage the influx of patient inquiries during time of uncertainty,” said Stefan Behrens, CEO, GYANT. “We’re thrilled to help Adventist Health keep their patients better informed and help prevent further spread of the virus. Adventist Health patients can now receive the most up-to-date information they need virtually, without needing to leave their homes.” 

The COVID-19 Virtual Assistant and Symptom Checker, developed using guidelines and protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), provides reliable, timely information to patients and community members. This free, easy-to-use tool is accessible 24/7, offers a symptom checker as well as provides options for a virtual visit and information on sheltering-in-place. 

For additional information and resources about coronavirus, visit adventisthealth.org/coronavirus-preparedness/. 

Southern California Gas

Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) today, Monday, April 6, launched a campaign titled, “SoCalGas CAREs” for customers whose income may have recently changed due to COVID-19 or other reasons. The campaign aims to let customers know of their eligibility to qualify for SoCalGas’ assistance program, California Alternate Rate for Energy, or CARE, saving them 20% on their monthly natural gas bills. Over the next several weeks, SoCalGas will begin running both ads promoting the “SoCalGas CAREs” campaign.

“SoCalGas is committed to assisting the communities we serve during this challenging period,” said Jeff Walker, vice president of Customer Solutions at SoCalGas. “We recognize that many families are facing unexpected hardships such as job and income loss right now and we want to remind them that SoCalGas’ assistance programs like CARE can help.”

Customers who have become recently unemployed or who are currently facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic or for other reasons are encouraged to visit socalgas.com/CARE, complete the quick online application and find out instantly if they qualify. The CARE online application is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

Other customer assistance programs SoCalGas offers include:

Gas Assistance Fund

• If you or someone you know is having difficulty paying your gas bill, the Gas Assistance Fund (GAF) may be able to provide you with a one-time grant for the amount of the gas bill, not to exceed $100. The Gas Assistance Fund is a joint effort of SoCalGas and United Way of Greater Los Angeles. They work with non-profit partner organizations throughout our service territory to administer the program. You may qualify for the Gas Assistance Fund based on your yearly household income. 

Medical Baseline Allowance

• The Medical Baseline Allowance program provides additional natural gas at the lowest baseline rate for individuals with a serious health condition.
• You may qualify for the Medical Baseline Allowance if a full-time member of your household:
  • Has a life-threatening illness or a compromised immune system
  • Is seriously disabled
  • Requires more heat in winter due to a serious health condition or to prevent deterioration of the individual’s medical condition
• Eligibility is based on medical condition only, not household income.

Please visit socalgas.com/assistance for more information on how to know if you qualify for these programs as well as how to apply.