LETTERS

Coronavirus by the numbers and local updates

Compiled by Kamala Kirk Cases and deaths by neighborhood as of January 23:

Culver City: 6,373 (deaths 120); Del Rey: 78 (deaths one); El Segundo: 2,437 (deaths 14); Marina del Rey: 1,459 (deaths four); Mar Vista: 6,241 (deaths 38); Palms: 6,960 (deaths 72); Playa del Rey: 352 (deaths one); Playa Vista: 1,954 (deaths 12); Santa Monica: 14,649 (deaths 202); Venice: 5,781 (deaths 21); Westchester: 7,625 (deaths 63) Total Westside cases: 53,909 Total Westside deaths: 548

Total confirmed cases in LA County:

2,494,097 Total deaths in LA County: 28,480 Total new cases as of Jan. 23: 26,354 Total new deaths: 63 Hospitalizations: 4,568

Positivity rate (seven-day daily

average): 17.47%

Total number of people tested:

10,871,507

(Source: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)

Properly fitted masks fight COVID-19 Editor:

If you are not concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, then you are either badly informed or not informed at all. Here are two incontestable facts: • A coronavirus infection produces the severe and frequently fatal disease COVID-19 • Airborne (aerosol) particles can carry virus material that is easily inhaled to lodge and multiply in the noses of uninfected victims Properly-fitted high-filtration masks reduce contagion two ways: 1) Through filtering virus-carrying materials out of inhaled air, and 2) Through reducing the amount of virus an infected person can release into our communal breathing supply. Unmasked or improperly masked infected people contaminate the air we all must breathe. Less virus in the air reduces opportunities for overwhelming virus counts in innocent victim’s airways to win over natural antibodies and immune responses — making them sick or, in some cases, dead. What really gets my goat: people who wear a potentially effective face mask without the metal strip at the top edge of the mask formed to fit closely around the bridge to their nose. These masks are frequently seen at ‘half-mast’ nearly at nostril level. “Gee that looks stupid!” I always think. I’m reminded of when California began requiring helmets for motorcycles 30 years ago, something that met considerable resistance from many older riders who had gone without for decades. A common demonstration for reluctant head protection wearers was to make a statement by leaving the chinstrap that secures the helmet un-fastened — demonstrating there is nothing new about stupidity. If you’re going to wear protection, why

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not wear it in a manner that provides protection? It doesn’t cost any more. For a few dollars, you can buy a plastic “mask fitter” or brace cage to wear over inexpensive flat filter paper masks that greatly improves the seal between mask and face. Look at a properly worn N-95 mask providing a good seal from the outside air. There will be two head straps to hold both top and bottom of the mask tightly to the face. The top edge of the mask with its thin metal strip has been carefully formed to fit the wearer’s nose and upper cheek contour, thereby minimizing air leaks around the edges. Properly forming the metal reinforcement around the bridge of the nose also helps keep the mask from slipping down — a proper fitting technique even for the lesser effective KN-95 and surgical style masks that utilize ear loops instead of the more effective pair of head straps. Lesser effective air filtering of inferior mask types can still be dramatically improved by carefully fitting the mask over the bridge and along the sides your nose. Take a minute in front of the mirror to experiment Sunset over Marina breakwater.

PHOTO CREDIT: KRIS DAHLIN

with your own mask. An easy way to test your mask fit is put on a pair of cold eyeglasses and see if they fog up when you exhale. Focus on wearing your mask properly so you don’t wander about in a fog of contagion — a danger to yourself and others. It is now a well-established fact that properly wearing a 95 rated mask along with complete vaccination is the best contagion mitigation, providing our best chance at controlling the pandemic

Tim Tunks Santa Monica

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