Coronavirus

SLO County adds 6 coronavirus cases for second day in a row

San Luis Obispo County added six new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row, bringing the total number of local COVID-19 cases to 226.

One of the cases is under the age of 17, and four of the six were reported in Paso Robles, with two new confirmed cases in Pismo Beach.

Of the 226 patients, 172 have recovered, and 49 are resting at home.

Four patients are in the hospital, two fewer than yesterday. However, two of the four hospitalized patients remain in intensive care. One local resident has died from COVID-19.

Since yesterday, two additional cases were caused by community spread and four were from person-to-person contact.

By closely tracking positive cases, San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials determined that, as of Monday, 49 of the county’s COVID-19 cases were acquired during travel, 102 cases were acquired through person-to-person contact with a known case and 74 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 Department has conducted a total of 2,180 tests as of Monday with 79 positive COVID-19 cases. Private labs have conducted at least 2,814 tests with 147 positive results. Private labs have reported negative results to the county since April 13.

The North County has the most coronavirus cases, with 86 confirmed in Paso Robles, 34 in Atascadero, eight in San Miguel and seven in Templeton.

Arroyo Grande has 19 cases, and Nipomo has 17. Pismo Beach now has nine, 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 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, 21 are age 17 or younger, 98 are 18 to 49 years old, 60 are 50 to 64 years old and 47 are age 65 and older.

Santa Barbara County had 1,308 coronavirus cases as of Sunday — 854 of whom are inmates at the Lompoc Federal Penitentiary, 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 67,939 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 1,259 new cases since Sunday. And 2,770 people have died from the virus as of Monday.

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 11, 2020 at 12:25 PM.

Follow More of Our Reporting on Coronavirus in California

Cassandra Garibay
The Tribune
Cassandra Garibay reports on housing throughout the San Joaquin Valley with Fresnoland at The Fresno Bee. Cassandra graduated from Cal Poly and was the breaking news and health reporter at The SLO Tribune prior to returning to the valley where she grew up. Cassandra is a two-time McClatchy President’s Award recipient. Send story ideas her way via email at cgaribay@fresnobee.com. Habla Español.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER