Are we seeing ‘pandemic fatigue’ in SLO County? ‘It is not over,’ Public Health says
After months of relatively low rates of infection, San Luis Obispo County has seen a slight uptick in the number of positive local coronavirus cases this week.
That has some at the Public Health Department saying we could be experiencing a bit of “pandemic fatigue.”
“I believe we are seeing quarantine or pandemic fatigue,” Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said at a media briefing Friday. “And it is not over. And we need to continue to do all these sensible measures.”
Borenstein was responding to the slight increase in the number of local positive cases this week.
On Thursday, the county reported more than 10 positive new cases for the first time since April. Other days this week have seen more than five new cases added a day — a slightly unusual number given the county’s previous low trends.
Borenstein said her office continues to do extensive contact tracing for all of the new cases, but so far has no evidence to link the rise in cases to any particular event or business sector.
Borenstein said a slight uptick in the numbers would not be unusual given the recent slate of businesses reopenings, but she urged people to remain vigilant in trying to reduce the spread of the virus.
“We ask you to basically be sensible,” she said. “We do ask that people continue to consider that we are in an environment of increased cases.”
Borenstein reminded everyone to continue to wash their hands extensively, to sanitize surfaces, to wear masks when applicable and to think twice before doing things like going out to dinner with people outside of your household.
“We are not immune from seeing a spike of cases,” Borenstein added, “and that’s why I continue to come before the public and ask that everyone continue to do their part.”
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