SLO County adds 5 new coronavirus cases — and passes a new benchmark
San Luis Obispo County passed 200 coronavirus cases Sunday — adding five patients for a total of 201 cases.
On Saturday, the county added eight COVID-19 patients.
San Luis Obispo County passed 100 cases April 8, 25 days after the first confirmed coronavirus case in the county March 14. The county reach the 200-case benchmark 50 days after that first confirmed case.
Public Health officials have determined 49 of the county’s COVID-19 cases were acquired during travel, 83 cases were acquired through person-to-person contact with a known case and 64 cases were acquired through community spread.
Meanwhile, five cases were acquired through unknown means, officials siad.
One of the five most recent cases was acquired through community transmission, and another was transmitted through person-to-person contact. The route of transmission of the three other cases is still under investigation.
SLO County COVID-19 cases by the numbers
The county’s Public Health and private labs have conducted a total of more than 3,200 tests. Seventy of the positive cases were reported by the Public Health Lab and 131 were reported by private labs.
Of the 201 people who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 in the county, 149 people have completely recovered, 44 are recovering at home and seven are in the hospital receiving treatment. Three hospitalized patients are in the intensive care unit.
One local resident has died from COVID-19.
New COVID-19 cases were added between Saturday and Sunday in Paso Robles, Atascadero and other areas.
Paso Robles now has 68 cases, Atascadero has 33 cases, Arroyo Grande has 19, Nipomo and San Luis Obispo each have 15.
San Miguel has eight, Templeton and Pismo Beach each have seven and Morro Bay has six.
Eleven inmates at the California Men’s Colony have now tested positive for COVID-19, and Public Health officials say they’re monitoring the state prison facility closely.
Other areas —which are defined as cities or towns with less than five cases each —have 12 cases.
Of those who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, 14 are age 17 or younger, 87 are 18 to 49 years old, 57 are 50 to 64 years old and 43 are age 65 and older.
When and where to get a COVID-19 test
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 people with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable.
Health officials urge those who exhibit 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.
Free coronavirus test clinics
The county Public Health Department will soon open two free coronavirus testing clinics in Grover Beach and Paso Robles that will be able to administer a combined 260 tests.
Who can get tested at the clinics?
- Healthcare workers and first responders
- 65 and older, or any age with chronic medical conditions
- Residents or employees of congregate care living facilities
- Workers in essential jobs, which includes utilities, grocery, food supply, and public employees
- Anyone exhibiting one or more symptoms of COVID-19
When and where? Testing will be available by appointment only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Paso Robles Veterans Hall, 240 Scott St. in Paso Robles, and Ramona Garden Community Center, 993 Ramona Ave. in Grover Beach.
How do I schedule an appointment? Registration for appointments will begin May 2. The online registration link can be found at emergencySLO.org/en/state-sponsored-testing-sites or you can register by phone at 888-634-1123.
Testing will also continue through private healthcare providers, urgent care centers and the County Public Health Lab.
Visit ReadySLO.org for the latest public health updates and recommendations.
This story was originally published May 3, 2020 at 12:44 PM with the headline "SLO County adds 5 new coronavirus cases — and passes a new benchmark."
