Coronavirus updates: Paso Robles concert series delayed, SLO County seeks foster families
San Luis Obispo County added six new coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the total number of local COVID-19 patients to 226.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues and more businesses are allowed to reopen, individual cities are deciding whether to require that people wear a mask when in crowded areas.
Meanwhile, San Luis Obispo County scraped its reopening plan after not meeting the requirements for an accelerated version of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide Phase 2 reopening.
Here are your local updates for Monday:
Paso Robles Concerts in the Park delays start
The Paso Robles Concerts in the Park series, usually starts in June, but this year, all of the June concerts have been postponed to August and September due to safety concerns.
The free event, hosted by the Paso Robles Recreation Foundation in partnership with Paso Robles Recreation Services and J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, is now slated to begin July 2, according to a news release.
However, plans may change depending on local and state social distancing guidelines a the time, according to the release.
The Paso Robles Community Services department said the series usually brings together about 2,500 people.
SLO County seeks foster parents
For foster children, the coronavirus pandemic has meant a shortage of resource families, according to a San Luis Obispo County news release.
According to the county, there has been an increase in incidents of severe abuse or neglect and a decrease in the number of families able to open their doors to children in need out of health risk concerns.
The county Department of Social Services typically receives 270 referrals per month to its child abuse reporting hotline, the release said.
According to the county, reports have declined since the shelter-at-home order, but the severity of the reported abuse has increased. The county also said the drop in reports may be a result of children not being able to talk to teachers or others who can report the abuse for them.
The county is looking for people to open their homes on both a short term (three to six months) or longer term (six months or more) basis. Children age 10 or older are those most in need.
Those able to help are asked to call 805-781-1705 or visit www.slofostercare.com.
Lompoc federal prison’s COVID-19 outbreak leaves families desparate
As of Sunday, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons reported 842 positive inmate coronavirus cases at the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution, with 20 people recovered — meaning the outbreak infected 74% of the prison’s population.
At the U.S. Penitentiary, there are 21 inmates with positive cases and 93 recovered among the population of 1,542 inmates at the medium-security and satellite prison camps.
Many family members of inmates are asking for the release of vulnerable loved ones or seeking updates on their health.
Inmates were recently told they will get one 15-minute phone call a week since prison officials expect the lockdown may extend to August.
Cal Poly sets potential graduation dates
Cal Poly has decided to postpone its graduation ceremonies until an in-person commencement can take place — but it’s unclear if that will happen this year.
If large gatherings are allowed by the end of the year, six ceremonies — one for each of the colleges — will take place Saturday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 13.
However, the university said “it is more likely that our celebration will be extended to spring 2021.”
In that case, the classes of 2020 and 2021 will have ceremonies Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, June 12 through 14, 2021.
How 6 SLO County restaurants stayed open amid coronavirus
North County restaurant group owner Eric Peterson said he was on the verge of temporarily closing his six restaurants after San Luis Obispo County’s shelter-at-home order shut down dine-in service on March 18.
Peterson owns Street Side Ale House in Atascadero and five other restaurants in the North County.
But federal government loans have kept his businesses afloat for the time being, while they offer food to go and delivery service. With the help of loans, he has been able to hire back more than half of his staff, he said.
Morro Bay Art in the Park canceled due to COVID 19
For the first time in 65 years, Morro Bay Art in the Park has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Memorial Day art show was supposed to take place May 23 to 25.
According to a news release, event organizers are considering holding the event July 3 to 5 or September 5 to 7. However, it will depend on state and countywide social distancing guidelines at the time, the release said.
SLO County adds 6 new coronavirus cases
San Luis Obispo County added six new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row, bringing the total number of local patients to 226.
Of the six most recent cases, four patients are from Paso Robles and two are from Pismo Beach.
Most of the COVID-19 patients — 172 — have fully recovered and 49 are recovering at home. There are four people receiving treatment in hospitals, with two in the intensive care unit.
One local patient has died from the virus.
Pismo Beach could require mask wearing in stores
The Pismo Beach City Council on Tuesday conducted the first reading of an ordinance requiring all essential workers and people who frequent an essential business within city limits to wear face coverings when on the premises.
The ordinance will need to go before the City Council once again for a second reading. If passed, it would go into effect 30 days after.
Pismo Beach is one of the first local cities to take steps to pass such a mask ordinance.
SLO City council decides not to require face coverings
The San Luis Obispo City Council considered mandating a mask requirement in crowded areas such as in stores where customers and business workers come into close contact.
Some stores have already made this a requirement to enter, but it is not a citywide rule.
But in a special meeting, the council decided against the requirement, citing difficulties with enforcing such a policy, after a relatively brief midday discussion.
SLO County scraps local plan to reopen economy
San Luis Obispo County officials backed away from their week-old reopening plan Friday and announced they will instead follow state guidelines on how to gradually emerge from the coronavirus shutdown.
The county will not renew the local coronavirus stay-at-home order set to expire later in May and will cede control to state leaders while following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to reopen the economy.
Meanwhile, San Luis Obispo County leaders are trying to jump ahead to the next phase of reopening.
If the county’s attestation is approved, restaurant dining rooms could open and retail shops could allow in-store shopping.
Newsom on Thursday issued criteria and procedures for counties to meet in order to move more quickly than other parts of the state through State 2 of modifying the stay-at-home order.
How COVID-19 is affecting SLO County farm workers
Like many San Luis Obispo County residents, local farm workers have had to adjust to numerous challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing guidelines.
Farm workers have faced challenges from finding childcare to figuring out how to maintain social distancing while working in the fields.
SLO County parents fear their kids will fall behind
Thousands of San Luis Obispo County parents are nearly two months into unexpectedly becoming their children’s educators after the coronavirus pandemic closed all K-12 campuses.
The situation is easier for some parents. But distance learning is an almost insurmountable challenge for parents who must leave home to work, who are already juggling their own studies with jobs and who have children with learning disabilities and other special needs.
Lake Nacimiento reopens — with limitations
On May 8, Lake Nacimiento Resort reopened for trail use and shoreline fishing. Yet, most of the park and its facilities will remain closed, according to the resort in northern San Luis Obispo County.
Lake Nacimiento’s campground and lodging areas, beach use, picnic tables, barbecues and day-use areas will remain closed. The park will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with bathrooms available for emergency use.
The Lake Nacimiento Resort said it will limit the park to 120 truck and trailers and only 30 single vehicles at a time, excluding annual slip holders.
Sunset Drive-In in San Luis Obispo is hiring
San Luis Obispo County announced in April that drive-in movie theaters can reopen while still remaining within the guidelines of the statewide shelter-at-home order. However, the Sunset Drive-In in San Luis Obispo said they had to change a few operations before doing so.
The drive in is currently hiring for a janitor position. Job requirements include access to transportation and weekend and holiday availability, according a job opening posted on Facebook.
The theater said via Facebook that it must be able to operate the concession stand safely in order to reopen.
Justin winery donates to nonprofits focused on COVID-19 relief
Justin Vineyards & Winery has donated $60,000 to three local nonprofit organizations who are providing coronavirus relief, according to a news release.
Through its Justin Community Grants program, the Paso Robles winery donated $30,000 to El Camino Homeless Shelter (ECHO), $20,000 to the San Luis Obispo County Food Bank and $10,000 to the Paso Robles Children’s Museum, the release said.
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 10:13 AM.
