16 people have now tested positive for coronavirus in SLO County
San Luis Obispo County now has 16 confirmed local cases of COVID-19, Public Health officials announced on Friday.
County Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein, said 16 local residents have now tested positive for the illness caused by coronavirus.
Borenstein made the announcement at a news conference one day after the county enacted its shelter-at-home order to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a similar statewide order on Thursday night.
The latest geographic distribution of those patients is seven in the North County, five in the South County, three on the coast and one in the San Luis Obispo central area, according to Borenstein.
Seven of those patients are non-senior adults, most with underlying health conditions. The remaining nine cases are all older, Borenstein said.
All are still recovering at home, she added.
To date, the county has tested 261 samples for COVID-19 in San Luis Obispo County; an additional lab that has been testing local patients from both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties has tested 282 samples, she said.
The county announced its first coronavirus case on Saturday, March 14. Since then, the number of cases has grown rapidly.
On Thursday, Borenstein said cases may reach the triple digits in several weeks’ time.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to the virus.
Health officials urge those who exhibit these symptoms to stay home, avoid contact with others, and call their health care provider or urgent care clinic before seeking medical care to receive safe arrival instructions, if directed to do so.
Go to the emergency room only if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
Visit ReadySLO.org for the latest public health updates and recommendations or call the Public Health information line at 805-788-2903.
