SLO County adds two new coronavirus cases — both from Paso Robles
San Luis Obispo County added two new coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to ReadySLO.org.
A total of 251 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, since mid-March.
Both new cases were in Paso Robles.
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 251 residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, 223 have completely recovered from the illness.
In total there are 28 active patients.
Of those, 24 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 101. 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 115 residents age 18 to 49 who’ve tested positive for COVID-19. The remaining 24 cases are age 17 and younger.
The county has determined that 49 cases were travel-related, 118 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 232 COVID-19 tests in San Luis Obispo County between Wednesday and Thursday.
The county’s Public Health lab has conducted 2,489 tests with 82 positive results. Private labs have conducted at least 5,258 tests with 169 positive results.
Private labs have reported negative results to the county since April 13.
As of Thursday, 1,421,127 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in California, according to the state Department of Public Health. Statewide, 86,197 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, an increase of 2,140 residents over Wednesday.
The state has seen 3,542 total deaths from COVID-19, as of Thursday.
Santa Barbara County added 3 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 1,520 — including 970 inmates at the federal prison in Lompoc, according to the local Public Health Department.
Santa Maria added 2 cases on Wednesday, bringing the city’s total to 232.
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.
