Coronavirus

SLO County adds 1 new coronavirus case — and it’s in the North County

San Luis Obispo County added one new coronavirus case on Friday, bringing the total number of local COVID-19 cases to 212.

Of those patients, a total of 168 people have completely recovered and 39 are resting at home. Four patients are in the hospital, and two of those are in intensive care.

One local resident has died from COVID-19.

By closely tracking positive cases, San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials determined that, as of Friday, 49 of the county’s COVID-19 cases were acquired during travel, 93 cases were acquired through person-to-person contact with a known case and 70 cases were acquired through community spread, officials said.

SLO County’s COVID-19 cases by the numbers

The county’s Public Health and private labs have conducted a total of 2,063 tests as of Friday. Seventy-three of the positive cases were reported by the Public Health Lab, and 139 were reported by private labs.

The North County has the most coronavirus cases, with 76 confirmed in Paso Robles, 34 in Atascadero, eight in San Miguel and seven in Templeton.

Arroyo Grande has 19 COVID-19 cases, and Nipomo has 16 cases. Pismo Beach has seven cases, 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, 94 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.

Follow More of Our Reporting on Coronavirus in California

Lindsey Holden
The Tribune
Lindsey Holden writes about housing, San Luis Obispo County government and everything in between for The Tribune in San Luis Obispo. She became a staff writer in 2016 after working for the Rockford Register Star in Illinois. Lindsey is a native Californian raised in the Midwest and earned degrees from DePaul and Northwestern universities.
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