Coronavirus updates: SLO County adds 68 COVID-19 cases, Atascadero car show postponed
San Luis Obispo County added 68 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, according to ReadySLO.org, bringing the total number of local patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 to 765.
While bars and wineries closed over the holiday weekend, visitors flocked to San Luis Obispo County beaches — but officials said most were observing mask and social distancing guidelines.
In San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly notified students and faculty that an employee who worked on campus has tested positive for coronavirus.
Here are your local updates for Monday:
SLO County adds 68 cases of COVID-19
San Luis Obispo County reported 68 new coronavirus cases over the holiday weekend, according to ReadySLO.org.
On Saturday, the county passed 700 COVID-19 cases, reaching 718, with 21 new cases. Twenty-six new cases were reported Sunday and 21 on Monday.
As of Monday, there are 198 active COVID-19 patients in San Luis Obispo County. Saturday saw the highest total of active local patients yet at 223.
Of the new cases, 25 involve adults 50 years old or older, and 39 involve adults under the age of 50. Four of the latest people to test positive for COVID-19 are minors.
Atascadero car show, cruise postponed due to coronavirus
The city of Atascadero has put the brakes on its popular Cruisin’ Weekend due to coronavirus concerns.
The weekend, which includes Hot El Camino Cruise Nite in downtown Atascadero and the Mid State Cruizers Car Show at Atascadero Lake Park, was originally scheduled for Aug. 14 and 15.
“Without being able to come up with a satisfactory and safe alternate delivery method that would enable the city to host any of these very popular events this summer ... the city has now made the tough decision to postpone the entire weekend lineup of activities until 2021,” Atascadero deputy city manager Terrie Banish said in a news release.
Cruisin’ Weekend will be held on Aug. 20 and 21, 2021.
Cal Poly employee tests positive for coronavirus
A Cal Poly employee who works on campus has tested positive for coronavirus, public health officials warned students and faculty Sunday.
This is the first Cal Poly employee that the university announced has tested positive.
In an email to the campus community, San Luis Obispo County public health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein and assistant vice president of student affairs Tina Hadaway-Mellis said the university is “thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting campus facilities and equipment, including those which this employee might have used while infected.”
What SLO County beaches looked like Fourth of July weekend
San Luis Obispo County beaches were fairly mellow for the Fourth of July holiday weekend this year, despite concerns about large crowds.
According to law enforcement officials, local beaches were somewhat crowded on Independence Day, but coastal communities didn’t see the huge throngs that usually pack San Luis Obispo County.
In Santa Barbara County, members of the public were barred from “sitting, laying, standing, sunbathing and sight-seeing, picnicking, and all other non-exercise, passive, or sedentary activities” from Friday through Saturday, according to the official order from the county Public Health Department.
But San Luis Obispo County opted to keep beaches open despite concerns about a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
On Friday, county public health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein ordered bars, pubs and breweries in San Luis Obispo County to close for the Fourth of July weekend due to coronavirus concerns. The countywide closure, which began 4 p.m. Friday, was lifted 5 a.m. Monday.
Ravine Water Park in Paso Robles closed due to coronavirus
The Ravine Water Park in Paso Robles will remain closed for summer due to coronavirus, according to a post on its Facebook page.
The park isn’t currently able to operate under state and San Luis Obispo County coronavirus health and safety regulations.
In addition, state directives — including those mandating masks, social distancing in public areas and reduced seating — “make it very difficult for our guests to have a positive experience this summer,” the post said.
This story was originally published July 6, 2020 at 1:05 PM.
