Coronavirus updates: SLO County reports fourth COVID-19 death, Paso Robles car show canceled
San Luis Obispo County has had 877 coronavirus cases since mid-March as of Thursday.
On Thursday, a fourth county resident died from COVID-19.
Most colleges plan to hold a majority of classes online due to the coronavirus pandemic, but international students at Cal Poly and Cuesta College are navigating new Immigration and Customs Enforcement guidelines that require them to take in-person classes.
And San Luis Obispo County will begin billing people with insurance for coronavirus tests.
Here are your local updates for Thursday:
A fourth resident dies due to COVID-19
A fourth San Luis Obispo County resident has died due to COVID-19, the county reported Thursday afternoon.
The 52-year-old — the youngest person to die due to COVID-19 locally — had significant underlying health condition and was living in a long-term care facility that experienced an outbreak, according to the county news release.
The fourth death followed the death of a 61-year-old long-term living facility resident who died Wednesday.
A 94-year-old patient with severe COVID-19 symptoms for about two weeks died on July 1.
The first person to die of coronavirus in San Luis Obispo County died in early April.
SLO County adds 32 coronavirus cases
San Luis Obispo County reported a fourth coronavirus-related death and 32 additional COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing the total number of people who locally tested positive for COVID-19 since March to 877, according to ReadySLO.org.
As of Thursday, there 260 active COVID-19 patients in San Luis Obispo County, the highest total of active local patients by 19 cases.
Paso Robles added 11 coronavirus cases, Atascadero added eight, and San Luis Obispo added three. Nipomo, Templeton and Arroyo Grande each added two cases.
Los Osos, Pismo Beach and Grover Beach each added one new case.
Of the newest cases, 21 involve people under the age of 50, three of whom are minors, and the other 11 cases involve patients over 50.
Warbirds, Wings, and Wheels canceled for second time due to COVID-19
The Estrella Warbirds Museum and Woodland Auto Display’s annual Warbirds, Wings, and Wheels event has been canceled due to COVID-19.
The car show, dance, display and swap meet in Paso Robles was originally scheduled for May 8, but was rescheduled for Sept. 19 before being canceled in 2020 altogether.
The Warbirds, Wings, and Wheels event is planned for Saturday, May 8, 2021.
How new ICE guidelines affect Cal Poly, Cuesta international students
Most colleges and universities are planning to provide mostly online classes in the fall due to COVID-19 — but U.S. immigration officials say online classes won’t be an option for international students if they want to stay in the United States.
Under new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) guidelines announced Monday, students with academic and vocational visas will need to take at least one in-person class if their college is offering them, transfer to a college that is offering in-person classes or leave the country.
However, if Cal Poly or Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo return to entirely online classes because of COVID-19, students will no longer be allowed to stay.
SLO County adds new coronavirus testing fees amid budget shortfall
San Luis Obispo County will charge new fees for COVID-19 tests conducted at the County Public Health Lab effective Aug. 7, according to a county news report.
According to the release, people will not be charged themselves, but the new ordinance allows for the county to bill insurance companies.
The new fees will offset the costs of the staff and testing equipment it takes to administer COVID-19 testing, as the county is facing a $32 million to $56 million budget shortfall, the release said.
Paso Robles school hosts drive-in graduations due to coronavirus
Paso Robles High School will hold drive-in graduation ceremonies after 17 planned mini ceremonies were canceled due to a recent uptick in local coronavirus cases.
The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board of trustees on Tuesday voted 4-2 to cancel the in-person celebrations set to begin on Wednesday at War Memorial Stadium.
Seniors will now receive their diplomas during drive-in graduation ceremonies, which will be held at the Paso Robles Event Center starting on Wednesday and continuing through the weekend.
Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County consider COVID-19 enforcement
Santa Maria city leaders will unite with Santa Barbara County public health representatives in battling the spread of COVID-19.
As of Tuesday, Santa Barbara County reported 3,742 COVID-19 cases with more than 1,500 occurring in the city of Santa Maria.
“It is really time for us to engage with City Council your code enforcement as well as your law enforcement to support us in that enforcement action,”Santa Barbara County public health director Van Do-Reynoso said.
This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 12:37 PM.
