Coronavirus updates: SLO County allows businesses to reopen, asks to ease shelter-at-home
San Luis Obispo County had a total of 132 coronavirus cases as of Monday, with no new cases reported, according to ReadySLO.org.
This is the fourth time since the first coronavirus case in San Luis Obispo County was confirmed that there has been a day with no new reported cases.
Meanwhile, in Santa Barbara County, a Lompoc prison inmate has died from COVID-19.
Now that the Cal Poly Alternative Care Site is nearing completion, Santa Barbara County may use it for their patients.
Here are your local Monday updates:
SLO County leaders want to phase out shelter-at-home
A coalition of San Luis Obispo County elected officials are urging Gov. Gavin Newsome to relax the state’s shelter-at-home order and allow for a phased reopening of the local economy, according to a letter they sent to the governor’s office Monday.
The letter asked for Newsom to grant permission for local leaders to implement San Luis Obispo County’s “Roadmap for Reopening.”
SLO County allows some businesses to reopen
Local health officials announced they have re-evaluated the county’s shelter-at-home order, and will allow four specific sectors of business to reopen.
These include pet grooming services, recreational fishing and elective surgery and outpatient practices.
SLO store donates socks to healthcare workers
San Luis Obispo retailer The Sock Drawer donated more than 200 pairs of novelty socks to healthcare workers on the Central Coast and elsewhere to thank them for “their contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a news release.
The business donated 100 pairs to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and 100 pairs to Dignity Health Central Coast, which oversees Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo. Several more pairs went to “medical workers in Michigan who are longtime fans,” the release said.
“Our products are about bringing people joy, and if there’s anyone who deserves that right now, it’s all the nurses, doctors and other essential medical workers out there,” The Sock Drawer owner Brooke English said in the release. “We hope this puts a smile on their faces.”
Central Coast farm donates strawberries to local hospitals
Corona Family Farms in Santa Maria recently donated more than 40 flats of strawberries to local healthcare workers “as a show of appreciation,” according to a Dignity Heath Central Coast news release.
“Employees of Corona Family Farms wanted to show their appreciation for the health care staff that are working daily to protect and serve our communities,” Corona Family Farms owner Anne Corona said in the release.
Berries were donated to physicians, nurses and other employees at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria.
Cal Poly won’t require SAT, ACT scores for admissions
The California State University system will temporarily suspend requiring the SAT and ACT exams to apply for admissions at its 23 campuses, including Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, because of coronavirus.
The decision came after the college board canceled SAT exam dates in the spring as stay-at-home orders were enforced.
The change in admissions requirements only applies to fall 2021, winter 2022 and spring 2022 admission cycles.
Lompoc prison inmate dies of coronavirus
A Lompoc federal prison inmate died from coronavirus Saturday amid a COVID-19 outbreak within the prison that has infected 80 inmates and 30 staff members.
Inmate Oliver M. Boling, 66, went into respiratory failure at the U.S. penitentiary on Sunday and was transported to an unspecified local hospital, according to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons statement released Friday night.
Santa Barbara County had reported 394 confirmed coronavirus cases and four deaths as of Sunday.
Santa Barbara could use Cal Poly Alternative Care Site
Santa Barbara County has began discussing the option of using the Cal Poly Alternative Care Site as a backup medical facility for civilians if the Lompoc federal prison outbreak fills local hospital beds.
As of Tuesday, there were only two open critical care unit beds at Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham said.
A Central Coast family shares their battle with coronavirus
Santa Maria Valley resident Louis Meza and his wife, Melissa, were among Santa Barbara County’s earliest patients confirmed to have COVID-19.
On the same day Louis Meza was released, his wife was admitted and immediately put on a ventilator because of her declining condition.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 10:05 AM.
