SLO County adds 2 new coronavirus cases; 3 patients are hospitalized
San Luis Obispo County added two new coronavirus patients on Friday for a total of 127 cases, according to ReadySLO.org.
Of those, 107 patients who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, have completely recovered, according to county Public Health Department standards.
Sixteen patients are recovering at home, and three are receiving treatment at a hospital. Two of the hospitalized patients are in the intensive care unit.
One county patient has died from the virus.
Coronavirus cases by the numbers
The Public Health Lab conducted 20 additional tests from Thursday to Friday, bringing the total to 810 with 48 positive results. The remaining 79 positive tests were conducted at private labs.
Paso Robles and Atascadero have the most COVID-19 cases with 31 and 23, respectively. Arroyo Grande has 17 cases, San Luis Obispo has 15 and Nipomo has 11.
Templeton has seven cases, Morro Bay has six and Pismo Beach has five. The remaining 12 patients live in other communities.
Forty-seven of the county’s COVID-19 patients are 18 to 49 years old. Thirty-seven patients are 50 to 64 years old, and another 37 are 65 and older.
Only six patients are 17 or younger.
When and where you should get tested for coronavirus
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 effects of the virus.
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.
County health officials are urging people to get tested if they experience even mild respiratory illness symptoms. However, the Public Health Lab still operates at a capacity of only about 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 17, 2020 at 12:51 PM.
