Third SLO County resident dies from coronavirus
A third San Luis Obispo County resident has died from COVID-19, officials reported Wednesday.
According to a county news release, the person was 61 years old and had significant underlying health conditions.
The person was living in a long-term care facility before being hospitalized for COVID-19 symptoms about two weeks ago, the release said.
“We are saddened that another vulnerable SLO County resident has succumbed to this disease and offer our condolences to the patient’s family,” county public health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said in the release.
The death is the second coronavirus-related death in the county in the past seven days.
A 94-year-old patient who was hospitalized with severe COVID-19 symptoms for about two weeks died on July 1.
The first person to die of coronavirus died in early April.
Along with a third death, the county reported 37 new coronavirus cases Wednesday.
As cases continue to rise, San Luis Obispo County is expected to be added to a state “watch list” after exceeding the state’s COVID-19 case rate criteria over the weekend.
Borenstein advised that people stay home if they are sick, keep six feet apart , wear face coverings in public and wash their hands often.
“This loss is a reminder that we must do all we can to protect those who are most vulnerable. They matter and they are important. It’s up to each of us to do our part,” she said in the release.
Although the risk is higher for older adults, younger adults make up a large portion of the county’s cases, and according to the release, even young adults in the county have been hospitalized by the virus.
