SLO County adds 2 new coronavirus cases
San Luis Obispo County added two new coronavirus cases in Paso Robles on Wednesday, according to ReadySLO.org.
A total of 249 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, since mid-March.
It’s now been more than two months since the county Public Health Department announced the first local coronavirus case.
The California Department of Public Health on Wednesday announced the county will be allowed to “move more quickly through Stage 2 opening sectors” and can permit restaurants and stores to reopen for some in-person services.
SLO County’s COVID-19 cases by the numbers
Of the 249 residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, 222 have completely recovered from the illness, leaving 27 active patients.
Twenty-three people are still recovering at home, and three patients are receiving hospital treatment. Two hospital patients 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 99. Atascadero has 38 cases, Arroyo Grande has 22, Nipomo has 18, San Luis Obispo has 17, 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.
Of the residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, 64 cases are 50 to 64 years old and 48 cases are age 65 and older.
There are 114 residents age 18 to 49 who’ve tested positive for COVID-19. The remaining 23 cases are age 17 and younger.
The county has determined that 49 cases were travel-related, 116 patients contracted the virus from person-to-person contact and 82 of the cases were acquired through community spread.
It’s unknown how two cases were transmitted, according to the county.
COVID-19 testing in SLO County and California
Public Health and private labs conducted 407 COVID-19 tests in San Luis Obispo County between Monday and Tuesday.
The county’s Public Health lab has conducted 2,530 tests with 82 positive results. Private labs have conducted at least 5,236 tests with 167 positive results.
Private labs have reported negative results to the county since April 13.
As of Tuesday, 1,380,120 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in California, according to the state Department of Public Health. Statewide, 84,057 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, an increase of 2,262 residents over Monday.
The state has seen 3,436 total deaths from COVID-19, as of Tuesday.
Santa Barbara County added 21 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,517 — including 971 inmates at the federal prison in Lompoc, according to the local Public Health Department.
Santa Maria added 10 cases on Tuesday, bringing the city’s total to 229.
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 20, 2020 at 1:31 PM.
