Of 6 new coronavirus cases in SLO County, 4 are minors, health officials say
San Luis Obispo County added six new coronavirus cases Sunday — the highest single-day increase in a week — bringing the total number of local COVID-19 cases to 220.
Four of the cases are under the age of 17, and five of the six were reported in Paso Robles, with one new confirmed case listed as “other.”
Of the 220 patients, 172 have recovered and 41 are resting at home. Six patients are in the hospital, with two 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 Sunday, 49 of the county’s COVID-19 cases were acquired during travel, 98 cases were acquired through person-to-person contact with a known case and 72 cases were acquired through community spread.
The route of transmission for one case is still unknown.
SLO County’s COVID-19 cases by the numbers
The county’s Public Health has conducted a total of 2,167 tests as of Saturday with 78 positive COVID-19 cases. Private labs have conducted at least 2,304 tests with 142 positive results. Private labs have reported negative lab results to the county since April 13.
The North County has the most coronavirus cases, with 82 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 seven.
The number of cases confirmed in the city of San Luis Obispo remains at 17.
Eleven inmates at the California Men’s Colony have 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, 20 are age 17 or younger, 95 are 18 to 49 years old, 60 are 50 to 64 years old and 45 are age 65 and older.
Santa Barbara County had 1,250 coronavirus cases as of Saturday — 797 of whom are Lompoc Prison inmates, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. The city of Santa Maria, which borders San Luis Obispo County, has 170 cases.
Statewide, California has 66,680 confirmed coronavirus cases and 2,745 people have died from the virus as of Sunday.
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?
- Health care 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 began 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 health care 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 10, 2020 at 1:38 PM.
