SLO County adds 1 new coronavirus case — and it’s in the North County
San Luis Obispo County added one new coronavirus case on Tuesday, according to ReadySLO.org.
A total of 247 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since March.
The new case is in Atascadero, according to the county. Since Monday, one new patient was hospitalized and six more patients have recovered.
It’s now been more than two months since the county Public Health Department announced the first local coronavirus case.
Under new state guidelines announced Monday, counties have to show they haven’t had a more than 5% increase in coronavirus hospitalizations in the past week, or that they have had fewer than 20 patients hospitalized on a single day in the past two weeks.
Counties also have to show they have no more than 25 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 14 days, or a positive test rate of less than 8%.
As of Monday, San Luis Obispo County had 15 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and a peak of six residents hospitalized in the past two weeks — both well below the state’s adjusted requirements, according to Borenstein.
The county is in the process of submitting a form to the state to show that it meets requirements to move forward with reopening.
SLO County’s COVID-19 cases by the numbers
Of the 247 residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, 213 have completely recovered from the illness, leaving 34 active patients.
Thirty people are still recovering at home, and three patients are receiving hospital treatment. Two of whom are in the intensive care unit.
One local resident has died from COVID-19.
Paso Robles continues to have the most COVID-19 cases in the county with 97. Atascadero has 38 cases, Arroyo Grande has 22, Nipomo has 17, San Luis Obispo has 18, and California Men’s Colony has 11.
Pismo Beach has nine cases, San Miguel and Templeton both have eight cases and Morro Bay has six. Other areas — defined as cities or communities with fewer than five cases — have 13 cases altogether.
Sixty-four cases are 50 to 64, and 48 cases are 65 and older.
There are 112 residents age 18 to 49 who’ve tested positive for COVID-19. The remaining 23 cases are age 17 and younger.
The most recent case contracted the virus from person-to-person contact.
The county has determined that 49 cases were travel related, 115 patients contracted the virus from person-to-person contact and 82 of the cases were acquired through community spread.
Only one case has an unknown route of transmission, according to the county.
COVID-19 testing in SLO County and California
Public Health and private labs conducted 291 COVID-19 tests in San Luis Obispo County between Monday and Tuesday.
The county’s Public Health lab has conducted 2,480 tests with 81 positive results. Private labs have conducted at least 4,879 tests with 166 positive results.
Private labs have reported negative results to the county since April 13.
As of Monday, 1,339,316 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in California, according to the state Department of Public Health. Statewide, 81,795 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, an increase of 1,365 residents since Monday. And 3,334 people have died.
Santa Barbara County added 22 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total to 1,496 — including 963 inmates at the federal prison in Lompoc, according to the local Public Health Department.
Santa Maria added nine Monday, bringing the city’s total to 219.
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? As of May 13, any county resident may be tested, even if they are asymptomatic.
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.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 12:47 PM.
