SLO County adds 5 new coronavirus cases — 2 months after first local case
San Luis Obispo County added five coronavirus cases on Thursday. A total of 237 residents have now tested positive for the illness, according to ReadySLO.org.
Two months ago, county public health officials announced the county’s first positive test for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
The county enacted its stay-at-home order a few days later, on March 19.
During that time, more than 180 people who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 have completely recovered from the virus. One local resident died from coronavirus in early April.
Thursday marks the fourth time in the past five days the county has added five or more COVID-19 cases day-over-day.
Paso Robles added three cases between Wednesday and Thursday, and Nipomo added two cases.
Santa Barbara County added six new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 1,376 — 895 of whom are inmates at the Lompoc federal prison, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.
Santa Maria added four new cases, bringing its total to 190.
Statewide, 71,141 residents had tested positive for COVID-19, and 2,934 patients had died, as of Tuesday, according to the California Department of Public Health.
As of Tuesday, 1,065,592 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in California.
Public Health and private labs conducted 386 tests between Wednesday and Thursday.
The county’s Public Health lab has conducted 2,277 COVID-19 tests, with 79 positive results. Private labs have conducted at least 3,561 tests with 158 positive results.
Private labs have reported negative results to the county since April 13.
Coronavirus cases by the numbers
Public Health officials reported five additional cases have completely recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total to 188.
Of the county’s active coronavirus cases, 45 are recovering at home and three have been hospitalized. Two of the hospitalized patients are in the intensive care unit.
One local resident has died from COVID-19.
By tracking confirmed COVID-19 patients and their contacts, Public Health officials have determined 49 cases were acquired through travel, 107 were acquired through close contact with a known case and 79 were acquired through community spread. Officials don’t know how two patients contracted the virus.
Of the recent cases, two people contracted COVID-19 through person-to-person contact with a known case, one case was contracted through community spread and the mode of spread is unknown for the remaining two cases.
Paso Robles has 90 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the most in the county. Atascadero has 36 cases, Arroyo Grande has 21 cases, San Luis Obispo has 17 cases, Nipomo has 19 cases and California Men’s Colony has 11 cases.
Pismo Beach has nine cases, San Miguel and Templeton have eight cases and Morro Bay has six cases. Other areas — cities and communities with less than five cases each — have 12 cases altogether.
Of the county’s confirmed COVID-19 cases, 104 were residents ages 18 to 49. Sixty-two cases were residents ages 50 to 60, and 48 cases were residents ages 65 and older.
Twenty-three cases were ages 17 and younger.
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.
Coronavirus test clinics
Two new coronavirus testing clinics have opened in Grover Beach and Paso Robles that will be able to administer a combined 260 tests a day. If insured, the county will bill the resident’s insurance company, however if the resident does not have insurance, they may still be tested for free.
Who can get tested at the clinics?
The county announced Wednesday that they are now offering testing to any San Luis Obispo County resident, regardless if they have symptoms.
The test will only tell people if they currently have the virus, not if they have had it in the past.
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 14, 2020 at 12:35 PM.