SLO County has 3 new cases of coronavirus — all in Paso Robles
San Luis Obispo County added three new coronavirus cases Thursday, bringing the total of local COVID-19 cases to 211.
Of those patients, a total of 167 people have completely recovered and 38 are resting at home. Five patients are in the hospital, three of which are in intensive care.
One local resident has died from COVID-19.
At Monday’s news briefing, San Luis Obispo County public health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said the county expects the number of local positive cases to increase in coming days as the county ups testing of residents.
By closely tracking positive cases, San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials determined that, as of Thursday, 49 of the county’s COVID-19 cases were acquired during travel, 88 cases were acquired through person-to-person contact with a known case and 68 cases were acquired through community spread.
Meanwhile, six cases were acquired through unknown means, officials said.
SLO County’s COVID-19 cases by the numbers
The county’s Public Health and private labs have conducted a total of more than 3,900 tests as of Wednesday. Seventy-one of the positive cases were reported by the Public Health Lab and 140 were reported by private labs.
The North County has the most coronavirus cases, with 75 confirmed in Paso Robles, 34 in Atascadero, eight in San Miguel and seven in Templeton.
Arroyo Grande has 19 COVID-19 and Nipomo has 16 cases. Pismo Beach has seven and Morro Bay has six.
The number of cases confirmed in the city of San Luis Obispo remains at 17.
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 11 cases.
Of those who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, 15 are age 17 or younger, 93 are 18 to 49 years old, 60 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
Two new free coronavirus testing clinics have opened in Grover Beach and Paso Robles that will be able to administer a combined 260 tests a day.
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 7, 2020 at 1:06 PM.
