SLO County now has 114 coronavirus cases, with 4 new cases
San Luis Obispo County now has 114 coronavirus cases, adding four new cases Sunday, according to ReadySLO.org.
A majority of the local patients infected with coronavirus — 95 — have completely recovered. Sixteen patients are recovering at home and two are hospitalized, both of whom are in the intensive care unit. No one has yet been admitted into the Cal Poly Alternative Care Site, according to ReadySLO.org.
One local patient has died from the virus.
Locally, one confirmed case is a senior living facility resident and one is an inmate at the California Men’s Colony.
The county’s public health lab has conducted 716 tests to date, however most positive test results have come from private labs. The county does not know how many total residents have been tested for the virus.
SLO County COVID-19 patients by the numbers
The county’s public health lab conducted 54 COVID-19 tests between Saturday and Sunday, bringing the total to 716 with 46 positive results. Sixty-eight positive tests were conducted at private labs.
Paso Robles still has the highest number of cases with 30, while Atascadero has 22 cases and Templeton has seven. Arroyo Grande has 16 cases, San Luis Obispo has 10 cases, Morro Bay has six, and Nipomo has seven cases. And Pismo Beach now has five cases. Other areas have 11 cases.
Sixty-six, a majority of the patients, are 50 years old or older and 43 cases have been confirmed in people 18 to 49 years old. Five children have tested positive.
When and where you should get tested
Symptoms of the virus that causes COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Mild symptoms also include chills, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose and diarrhea.
Older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to the virus’ effects.
Health officials urge those who exhibit symptoms to stay home, avoid contact with others and call their healthcare provider or urgent-care clinic before seeking medical care to receive safe arrival instructions, if directed to do so.
While the county is asking for more people to get tested if they have any respiratory illness symptoms, the Public Health Lab still only operates at a capacity of around 50 tests per day.
People experiencing symptoms should first call their private health providers or an urgent care clinic. Providers that are accepting samples for testing can be found on the county’s website.
Potential patients who are experiencing the listed symptoms and are struggling to get tested can call the Public Health Department at 805-781-5500. However, Public Health officials cannot guarantee anyone a test.
Go to the emergency room only if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
The county has opened the Cal Poly Alternate Care site, which will be staffed by the Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.
To volunteer for the medical corps auxiliary, sign up at HealthcareVolunteers.ca.gov and then email the San Luis Obispo Medical Corps coordinator at slomrc@gmail.com.
Visit ReadySLO.org for the latest public health updates and recommendations.
This story was originally published April 12, 2020 at 12:21 PM.