Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, February 5, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, February 5, 2022 8 
LA COUNTY COVID-19 UPDATE 
COVID-19 IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH ACROSS LA COUNTY 
WITH OLDER AND UNVACCINATED RESIDENTS STILL AT RISK OF SEVERE 
ILLNESS 
More LA County residents passed away from COVID-19 between 
March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, than those who passed away 
from coronary heart diseases (21,513), which is historically the leading 
cause of death across the county. Over the same 22 months, there were 
3,422 pneumonia and influenza deaths recorded, a far lower number 
of deaths when compared to COVID deaths. For the month of Decem-
ber, there were 396 deaths from COVID-19 compared to 163 deaths 
from pneumonia or influenza based on death certificate data. Unfortu-
nately, despite the availability of vaccines and the dominance of Omi-
cron, which generally causes less severe disease than prior variants, CO-
VID-19 deaths continue to far outstrip deaths due to other respiratory 
illness. 
As the latest surge continues to subside, older and unvaccinated resi-
dents continue being the most at risk of ending up in the intensive care 
unit (ICU) or even dying. 
Vaccination status plays a key role in determining risk of critical illness and death. For the period 
ending January 22nd, residents who were fully vaccinated and had a booster were about 31 times 
less likely to need care in an ICU than those who were not vaccinated. Fully vaccinated individuals 
who did not have a booster dose were about 8 times less likely to be admitted to an ICU than unvac-
cinated individuals. Data also showed that COVID-19 continues to disproportionately affect certain 
residents. From December 17, 2021, through January 15, 2022, unvaccinated residents ages 50-64 
were over 15 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than the same age group who were fully vac-
cinated. Unvaccinated residents 65 and older were 24 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than 
those fully vaccinated. 
SCHOOL SAFETY MEASURES CONTINUE TO DRIVE DOWN POSITIVE TESTS 
AMONG SCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENTS 
Schools across the county continue implementing safety measures that are helping to drive down 
several COVID metrics among students and staff. For the week of January 24-28, schools conducted 
486,616 tests that resulted in 21,472 positive tests (with 14,872 positive tests from LAUSD). This is 
a 47% decrease from the 40,694 positive tests from the week prior. The test positivity rate also de-
creased by 37% to 4.4% compared to 7% for the week prior. 
While test positivity and the number of positive tests in schools continue to decline, the number of 
outbreaks increased slightly. As of January 31, there were 52 active school outbreaks, including 18 
new outbreaks (14 in elementary schools, three in youth sports, and one in a high school) between 
January 23-29. Although the number of new outbreaks in schools rose, the number is relatively mod-
est thanks to school-based safety measures, including masking and testing, that reduce spread. 
Public Health continues working with schools across the county to implement a comprehensive strat-
egy that includes over 900 school-based vaccine clinics scheduled for February where first, second 
and third doses will be available. Additionally, Public Health has begun distributing an additional 1 
million home test kits this week to public, charter, and independent/private schools in areas of high 
need through partnerships with the LA County Office of Education and Heluna Health. The Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also approved an additional 615,000 professional 
rapid tests for LA County schools through the White House rapid test kit program and the state is 
delivering over 170,000 at-home test kits this week to be distributed to schools. 
This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the license for the Moderna 
COVID-19 vaccine after a thorough evaluation of the quality, safety, and effectiveness data by a panel 
of scientific and medical experts. The vaccine is now fully approved for use in people 18 and older. 
Since the Moderna vaccine received FDA emergency use authorization on December 18, 2020, more 
than 204 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the US according 
to data from the CDC. 
The Chef Knows By Peter Dills 
MANNERS 
My good friend and local hair stylist 
suggested an article on table manners, well 
here goes Mike! 
Must admit with all the Presidential weeks 
and Valentines day fast approaching, plus 
my food notes and trivial trivia, I almost 
missed National Margarita & Chili Days, 
and what type of foodie would I be, but fear 
not friends, I did partake in a Margarita and 
a hot bowl of beanless chili. I have to take 
my Andy Rooney Card out again and give you my fellow diners the rules of Etiquette 101. I 
love my daughter, and some of my friends kids. But here goes. 
I am asked frequently asked about etiquette and table manners, so I compiled this simple list 
based on the most common questions. 
* Your napkin goes in your lap, folded in half, as soon as you sit down. Many people wait 
until the food arrives, but the proper form is to be prepared. 
* If you leave the table, place the napkin to the left of your plate, loosely draped. 
* A napkin is never for blowing your noise or wiping your mouth. Use it to dab at the 
corners of your mouth or your fingertips. If you need to cleanse further, leave the table 
and use the appropriate products in the restroom. 
* In formal dining, a charger will be under the place setting. It remains there during the 
starter course and is removed at the main course. 
* Your eating utensils go in the order of use, starting from the outside (furthest from the 
plate) and working their way in. Forks go on the left; knives and spoons on the right, as 
you face the plate. Dessert utensils are placed at the top of the plate, sideways. 
* The bread and butter plate goes to the left, above the forks. 
* The water glass goes above the knives (behind the wine goblet, if there is one). 
* Food should be passed counter-clockwise. 
* It is considered impolite to start eating before everyone is seated and served, including 
your host. 
* Only the meal settings and food belong on the table. Do not place your elbows, eye-
glasses, notebook, pen or other objects on the table. 
* Cut no more than two bites of any item at a time. When it comes to bread, tear off one 
bite at a time and butter it, rather than buttering a whole roll. 
* Do not season your food until you have tasted it. 
* It is permissible to use a piece of bread to wipe up excess gravy, as long as you use your 
fork and not your fingers. 
* If you need to leave the table, place your utensils on the edge of your plate so that the tips 
point to the plate’s center, in a V-shape. To signal when you are finished, lay your utensils 
side by side diagonally on the plate. 
Listen to Dining w/Dills on AM 830 KLAA this Sunday at 5 PM 
Mountain View News Saturday, February 5, 2022 8 
LA COUNTY COVID-19 UPDATE 
COVID-19 IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH ACROSS LA COUNTY 
WITH OLDER AND UNVACCINATED RESIDENTS STILL AT RISK OF SEVERE 
ILLNESS 
More LA County residents passed away from COVID-19 between 
March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, than those who passed away 
from coronary heart diseases (21,513), which is historically the leading 
cause of death across the county. Over the same 22 months, there were 
3,422 pneumonia and influenza deaths recorded, a far lower number 
of deaths when compared to COVID deaths. For the month of Decem-
ber, there were 396 deaths from COVID-19 compared to 163 deaths 
from pneumonia or influenza based on death certificate data. Unfortu-
nately, despite the availability of vaccines and the dominance of Omi-
cron, which generally causes less severe disease than prior variants, CO-
VID-19 deaths continue to far outstrip deaths due to other respiratory 
illness. 
As the latest surge continues to subside, older and unvaccinated resi-
dents continue being the most at risk of ending up in the intensive care 
unit (ICU) or even dying. 
Vaccination status plays a key role in determining risk of critical illness and death. For the period 
ending January 22nd, residents who were fully vaccinated and had a booster were about 31 times 
less likely to need care in an ICU than those who were not vaccinated. Fully vaccinated individuals 
who did not have a booster dose were about 8 times less likely to be admitted to an ICU than unvac-
cinated individuals. Data also showed that COVID-19 continues to disproportionately affect certain 
residents. From December 17, 2021, through January 15, 2022, unvaccinated residents ages 50-64 
were over 15 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than the same age group who were fully vac-
cinated. Unvaccinated residents 65 and older were 24 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than 
those fully vaccinated. 
SCHOOL SAFETY MEASURES CONTINUE TO DRIVE DOWN POSITIVE TESTS 
AMONG SCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENTS 
Schools across the county continue implementing safety measures that are helping to drive down 
several COVID metrics among students and staff. For the week of January 24-28, schools conducted 
486,616 tests that resulted in 21,472 positive tests (with 14,872 positive tests from LAUSD). This is 
a 47% decrease from the 40,694 positive tests from the week prior. The test positivity rate also de-
creased by 37% to 4.4% compared to 7% for the week prior. 
While test positivity and the number of positive tests in schools continue to decline, the number of 
outbreaks increased slightly. As of January 31, there were 52 active school outbreaks, including 18 
new outbreaks (14 in elementary schools, three in youth sports, and one in a high school) between 
January 23-29. Although the number of new outbreaks in schools rose, the number is relatively mod-
est thanks to school-based safety measures, including masking and testing, that reduce spread. 
Public Health continues working with schools across the county to implement a comprehensive strat-
egy that includes over 900 school-based vaccine clinics scheduled for February where first, second 
and third doses will be available. Additionally, Public Health has begun distributing an additional 1 
million home test kits this week to public, charter, and independent/private schools in areas of high 
need through partnerships with the LA County Office of Education and Heluna Health. The Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also approved an additional 615,000 professional 
rapid tests for LA County schools through the White House rapid test kit program and the state is 
delivering over 170,000 at-home test kits this week to be distributed to schools. 
This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the license for the Moderna 
COVID-19 vaccine after a thorough evaluation of the quality, safety, and effectiveness data by a panel 
of scientific and medical experts. The vaccine is now fully approved for use in people 18 and older. 
Since the Moderna vaccine received FDA emergency use authorization on December 18, 2020, more 
than 204 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the US according 
to data from the CDC. 
The Chef Knows By Peter Dills 
MANNERS 
My good friend and local hair stylist 
suggested an article on table manners, well 
here goes Mike! 
Must admit with all the Presidential weeks 
and Valentines day fast approaching, plus 
my food notes and trivial trivia, I almost 
missed National Margarita & Chili Days, 
and what type of foodie would I be, but fear 
not friends, I did partake in a Margarita and 
a hot bowl of beanless chili. I have to take 
my Andy Rooney Card out again and give you my fellow diners the rules of Etiquette 101. I 
love my daughter, and some of my friends kids. But here goes. 
I am asked frequently asked about etiquette and table manners, so I compiled this simple list 
based on the most common questions. 
* Your napkin goes in your lap, folded in half, as soon as you sit down. Many people wait 
until the food arrives, but the proper form is to be prepared. 
* If you leave the table, place the napkin to the left of your plate, loosely draped. 
* A napkin is never for blowing your noise or wiping your mouth. Use it to dab at the 
corners of your mouth or your fingertips. If you need to cleanse further, leave the table 
and use the appropriate products in the restroom. 
* In formal dining, a charger will be under the place setting. It remains there during the 
starter course and is removed at the main course. 
* Your eating utensils go in the order of use, starting from the outside (furthest from the 
plate) and working their way in. Forks go on the left; knives and spoons on the right, as 
you face the plate. Dessert utensils are placed at the top of the plate, sideways. 
* The bread and butter plate goes to the left, above the forks. 
* The water glass goes above the knives (behind the wine goblet, if there is one). 
* Food should be passed counter-clockwise. 
* It is considered impolite to start eating before everyone is seated and served, including 
your host. 
* Only the meal settings and food belong on the table. Do not place your elbows, eye-
glasses, notebook, pen or other objects on the table. 
* Cut no more than two bites of any item at a time. When it comes to bread, tear off one 
bite at a time and butter it, rather than buttering a whole roll. 
* Do not season your food until you have tasted it. 
* It is permissible to use a piece of bread to wipe up excess gravy, as long as you use your 
fork and not your fingers. 
* If you need to leave the table, place your utensils on the edge of your plate so that the tips 
point to the plate’s center, in a V-shape. To signal when you are finished, lay your utensils 
side by side diagonally on the plate. 
Listen to Dining w/Dills on AM 830 KLAA this Sunday at 5 PM 
COVID 19 Cases Still Rising: 

WHERE WE ARE 2/05/22 VERSUS LAST WEEK 1/29/22 
Cases/Deaths are still occuring especially among the unvaccinated. 

Cases This Week ( 01/29/22) Deaths This Week (01/29/22) 
LA County 2,683,644 (2,586,739) 29,099 (28,715) 
LA COUNTY VACCINATIONS AS OF 02/05/2022 (Fully)

Adults 12+ 86.5% Seniors 98.6% 
(Last Week) Cases Deaths Fully Vaccinated 
Arcadia 7,391 (7104) 155 (152) 89.7% 
Altadena 7848 (7589) 86 (84) 81.9% 
Bradbury 56 ( 54) 0 ( 0) 71.1% 
Duarte 4,880 (4733) 111 (110) 83.0% 
Monrovia 7,766 (7460) 90 (89) 80.2% 
Pasadena 26,262 (25426) 382 (379) 84.4% 
Sierra Madre 1,415 (1364) 15 ( 15) 88.7% 
So.Pasadena 3,708 (3585) 53 ( 51) 93.7% 

STAY SAFE! GET VACCINATED! WEAR A MASK! 

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