Coronavirus updates: Lucia Mar cancels in-person classes, most SLO County patients recovered
San Luis Obispo County added seven coronavirus cases Thursday, bringing the total to 149 cases.
A second California Men’s Colony inmate was among the new patients to test positive for the virus.
Despite this, the county is moving forward with allowing some businesses and activities to open with some restrictions. But county officials remind people to continue to maintain distance from others — even on hiking trails.
Here are your local updates for Thursday:
Lucia Mar cancels in-person classes for the rest of the year
Lucia Mar school officials announced Wednesday that campuses will remain closed for the rest of this academic year, and in-person classes will likely be canceled through the summer.
Lucia Mar is the second district in San Luis Obispo County to cancel in-person classes for the year. San Luis Coastal Unified School District opted to close campuses for the remainder of the year on April 14.
Most SLO County coronavirus patients have recovered
About 80% of patients — 119 of the 149 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in San Luis Obispo County — have recovered.
In comparison, only about 21% of coronavirus patients in Monterey County and 44% in Santa Barbara County have reportedly recovered.
The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department said this may be a result of the county’s resources and ability to contact patients and check-in each day.
SLO County adds more than 5 new coronavirus cases for second day in a row
San Luis Obispo County now has 149 coronavirus cases, adding seven new cases Thursday, according to ReadySLO.org.
On Wednesday, eight new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19 were reported. This jump in cases comes after two and a half weeks with fewer than five new reported cases each day.
Of the confirmed cases, 119 have recovered and 28 are recovering at home. One patient is being treating at the hospital in the intensive care unit and one patient has died.
Second CMC inmate tests positive for coronavirus
A second California Men’s Colony inmate has tested positive for COVID-19, a prison spokesman said Wednesday.
So far, 18 inmates have been tested for the illness caused by the new coronavirus, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
No staff members at CMC have been infected.
When will SLO County ‘reopen’?
The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department tweeted on Thursday that there is no set date to “reopen” the county.
The agency said it has heard several rumors claiming that the county will allow businesses to reopen May 1. However, officials say, this is not the case.
San Luis Obispo County is developing a plan to phase out the shelter-at-home order and has allowed eight sectors of business and activities to reopen while still remaining within the guidelines of the statewide and county orders.
While county officials said they will have a public phase-out plan as early as next week, the county must wait for the governor’s orders to be lifted — and the plan will only go into place if new coronavirus cases and the number of hospitalized patients remains low, county officials said Monday.
Tips for how to stay safe on hiking, biking trails
Public health officials encourage people to get outside and exercise in San Luis Obispo’s open space areas and 55 miles of hiking trails, but staying safe during the coronavirus pandemic is still paramount.
Some trails and parking lots near trails have closed due to a lack of social and physical distancing and other trails have been converted to one-way routes.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department director offered some tips for residents to stay safe while hiking or biking.
SLO County nurses on front lines of COVID-19 pandemic
Three local nurses took a leave of absence from their jobs at French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo to help coronavirus patients at some of the hardest hit hospitals in New York City.
Emergency room nurse Elissa Molfino and intensive care unit nurses Jessi Norris and Devon Everson shared what it is like on the front lines of the pandemic.
More businesses, activities can reopen under shelter-at-home
San Luis Obispo County announced Wednesday that four sectors of business and activities will be allowed to reopen while still remaining within the guidelines of state and county shelter-at-home orders.
Drive-in movie theaters, fabric stores and cleaning and janitorial services may open, county officials said, and houses of worship may now have drive-in services. The move came two days after the county allowed recreational fishing and pet grooming services to reopen.
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 10:03 AM.
