9 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in SLO County, bringing total to 42
The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department confirmed Tuesday that nine new patients have tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of local cases to 42.
It was the single largest daily increase locally since the first case was reported 10 days ago.
With the rate continuing to increase, Public Health Officer Penny Borenstein said she estimates it could be weeks before the number of local patients hits its peak.
The latest geographic distribution of confirmed cases shows there are now 18 in the North County, 13 in the South County, eight on the coast and three in the San Luis Obispo central area.
Though most of the reported cases are predominately in adults, three cases have emerged in patients younger than 19.
On Sunday, the county Public Health Department confirmed two Arroyo Grande High School students — a 10th-grade student and a 12th-grade student — had tested positive for COVID-19.
Additionally, 12 are in the 65-years-and-older age group, and 27 are in the 19-to-64 age range.
One patient is in the hospital and one is in ICU, the health department says, while the rest are home. Six patients have reportedly recovered.
There have been no reported deaths in San Luis Obispo County due to COVID-19.
As of Tuesday, the Public Health Department has tested 300 people, and 21 cases were confirmed by their lab. Private labs reported the other 21 confirmed cases.
Of the confirmed cases, 21 were travel-related, 10 received the virus from person-to-person contact, three cases were community-acquired and eight have unknown routes of transmission, according to the ReadySLO.org website.
San Luis Obispo County announced its first coronavirus case on 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.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 1:03 PM.