Rise in SLO County coronavirus cases linked to graduation party, reopening
More than half of the 23 new coronavirus cases San Luis Obispo County reported on Monday could be traced back to a single gathering, according to public health officials.
San Luis Obispo County confirmed nine new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
In total, the county has had 356 COVID-19 cases since mid-March.
Monday marked the highest number of active cases, with 59 active patients. A total of 287 people who tested positive for coronavirus have recovered, and one local patient who has died.
According to the county, 14 new cases were reported Saturday, two on Sunday and seven on Monday.
Most of the weekend cases can be attributed to family contact and traced back to a graduation party, according to a county news release Tuesday. The county did not clarify where the graduation party was held.
The rise in local cases is to be expected as restaurants and other businesses reopen across the state, San Luis Obispo County public health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said in the release.
“I understand the increase in cases in recent days may alarm some, yet it is not unexpected as we continue to reopen amid a pandemic,” Borenstein said in the release.
According to the release, 14 of the 23 cases are attributed to person-to-person spread, one is attributed to travel and five are attributed to community spread. Three of the cases reported Monday still have unknown transmission routes, the county said.
Borenstein said that although cases continue to rise, hospitalizations and patients who need intensive care have remained low.
The county had not released its latest coronavirus case count as of 12:45 p.m. Tuesday.
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 12:53 PM.
