Delta variant concern triggers some closures in LW

AMENITY STATUS REPORT

It has come to the attention of GRF that COVID-19 cases are on the rise in LW. Several clubs have reported infections among their members and have voluntarily canceled or postponed their reservations.

The Recreation Department is receiving daily reports of COVID cases in LW, mostly among the vaccinated, with some residents hospitalized.

The GRF has reached out to Orange County for guidance, and although the county has not yet imposed new restrictions, it recognizes LW as a private community with an at-risk population, and so the GRF is free to impose its own restrictions.

The GRF Board has asked staff to restrict some activities and has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the Amphitheater show season and all weekend dances through August, as the situation remains fluid.

Recreation is also asking each club to consider voluntarily suspending reservations for a period of time. To do so, email kathyt@lwsb.com as soon as possible and include when and where the club meets in the email.

As of press time, about 60 clubs have consented to temporarily suspending their reservations. In addition, LW Baptist, Redeemer and St. Theodore, LW Community Church and First Christian churches, and Congregation Sholom and Beit Ha’lev have all suspended in person services for the time being. The Hospitality Center in Clubhouse 6, and the Friends of the Library Bookstore, both of whom rely on volunteers, have decided to close in the interim in an abundance of caution. Friends Bookstore volunteers ask people to hold onto donations until the bookstore reopens.

Several of the dance and exercise groups that meet in Clubhouse 6 have relocated to Veterans Plaza while the threat continues (see the schedule below).

Residents who attend multiple clubhouse functions may have a greater risk of being exposed.

The GRF cannot release the names of people or clubs who have reported cases, but club leadership has agreed to contact their members. In the meantime, groups who do not cancel are urged to require masks of their members, and limit or prohibit guests.

The Recreation Department is working with ICS, the janitorial contractor, to increase disinfection of all trust property venues in an effort to mitigate the spread, as well to protect the LW community, which is the GRF’s first concern.

Residents who have made reservations for private events at a clubhouse may also want to cancel or postpone reservations. To do so, email Recreation at kathyt@lwsb.com.

Watch for updates on LW Live should it become necessary for the GRF Board to impose restrictions if cases escalate.

For more information, email kathyt@lwsb.com.

List of club and group schedule/ location adjustments:

Veterans Plaza Calendar

Mondays

• Fitness Fusion: Mon., Aug. 16, 10 a.m.- noon

• Dance Fitness, 5-7 p.m.

Tuesdays

• Dance Fitness, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

• LW Yoga, 10-11:30 a.m.

• Ballet Fitness, 1-3 p.m.

Wednesdays

• Joyful Line Dance, 10 a.m.12:30 p.m.

• Zumba Dance Club, 4:30-6 p.m.

Thursdays

Fitness Fusion, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Hui O Hula, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Fridays

•Zumba Club, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

This schedule will continue until further notice and is subject to change.

Several exercise groups are now meeting at Veterans Plaza.