Coronavirus updates: Amtrak resumes train services in SLO County, new shower program
San Luis Obispo County had 268 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Thursday, according to the county Public Health Department.
As business sectors continue to reopen, the California Department of Motor Vehicles opened its San Luis Obispo office and the San Luis Obispo County Department of Agriculture is providing free face masks to farm workers.
Meanwhile, the California Mid-State Fair has become the latest major local event to be canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
Here are your local updates for Thursday:
Amtrak resumes limited train services in SLO County
Starting June 1, the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will offer partial train service in San Luis Obispo County after stopping when the shelter-at-home order first went into effect, according to a news release.
The release said there will be an arrival and departure each day from the San Luis Obispo and Grover Beach stations.
Amtrak has increased the frequency of cleaning service on all trains and at stations to multiple times a day, and in some cases, on an hourly basis, according to the release. And passengers are required to wear face coverings or masks.
About 100 miles of the 351-mile coastal rail corridor will be in service again.
For information on routes and services, visit PacificSurfliner.com.
SLO County offers shower program to homeless people
San Luis Obispo County’s Oceano Coastal Dunes RV Park & Campground safe overnight parking program is transitioning into a safe shower program starting June 1. The safe parking program will continue in Los Osos and San Luis Obispo.
The showers will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mavericks Campground, located within the Coastal Dunes RV Park & Campground, at 1001 Pacific Boulevard, Highway 1 in Oceano, the release said.
The showers will be limited to 30 minutes and people who use the site must follow social distancing guidelines.
According to the county, the safe shower program will end upon the beginning of Stage 3 of the Resilience Roadmap.
Tuesday Morning closes SLO store due to COVID-19
Texas retailer Tuesday Morning will close its San Luis Obispo store at the Marigold Shopping Center on Broad as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed on May 27.
In its court filing, the company has said it would shutter 230 of its 687 stores, with the San Luis Obispo store closing June 1
In court papers, Tuesday Morning said, “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the debtors have faced unprecedented challenges including rapidly declining sales at their retail locations.”
Paso Robles to reopen some library, park services
The Paso Robles Community Services Department will reopen the Paso Robles City Library and Centennial Park with restrictions beginning June 1, according to a news release.
The Paso Robles library will begin a curbside pickup service Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the release said.
Books and items can be reserved online or via phone. Once the item is ready for pickup, the library will let the person know.
People reserving library items will be asked to remain in their car and text 805-220-7171 or call the library at 805-237-3870 for pickup, the release said.
According to the release, returned items will be placed in quarantine for 72 hours prior to check in, and all library employees will use masks and gloves.
The tennis and pickle ball courts at Centennial Park will also reopen June 1.
Recreation Services will offer modified classes on the Centennial Park patio, tennis courts, and various locations throughout the park. Classes will be limited in size to a total of 10 people, including the instructor.
SLO company says it lost $500,000 in COVID-19 face mask scam
A San Luis Obispo company says it fell victim to a scam when it ordered nearly $1 million in protective face masks, paid a 50% deposit, and waited in vain for the Chinese supplier to come through.
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in San Luis Obispo Superior Court, attorneys for Bandana Trading, Inc. claims the company ultimately lost about $500,000 over the deal.
The masks were supposed to arrive no later than April 16 or the order would be void, the complaint says. The lawsuit says the face coverings never showed and no reimbursement was made.
SLO County adds 2 new coronavirus case
One new coronavirus case in San Luis Obispo County was reported on Thursday — and 267 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, according to ReadySLO.org.
Four patients are in the intensive care unit. One of the new cases was reported in an area with less than five cases and the other in Nipomo.
The county has reported more than 10,000 residents tested between the county Public Health Department and private labs Wednesday.
California Mid-State Fair is canceled
The 2020 California Mid-State Fair has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. It would have celebrated its 75 year in July.
The 16th District Agricultural Association Board, which governs the Paso Robles fair, voted unanimously Thursday to cancel the event.
The announcement came after the Mid-State Fair had postponed competitions for wine, vinegar and craft spirits.
Free personal protective equipment available to farm workers
The San Luis Obispo County Department of Agriculture has received about 54,000 surgical masks for growers and farm workers, according to department commissioner Mart Settevendemie.
Settevendemie said the masks were acquired through a partnership with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Department of Food and Agriculture and the state Public Health Department.
The masks are free to farm workers and growers and will be distributed on an “as needed” basis, Settevendemie said at a county news briefing Wednesday.
To receive free personal protective equipment from the Department of Agriculture, call 805-781-5910.
California DMV office reopens in SLO
The California Department of Motor Vehicles is reopening dozens of offices Thursday, including its San Luis Obispo location.
The San Luis Obispo field office was one of 170 sites that shut two months ago because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Now, California drivers will be able to schedule appointments at 71 of the previously shut offices. The offices allowed to reopen across the state were selected by location, size, service capacity and other factors.
The Paso Robles and Santa Maria field offices remain closed at this time.
Correction: This article has been updated that there were two additional COVID-19 cases in SLO County on Thursday.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates: Amtrak resumes train services in SLO County, new shower program."
