SLO County adds 32 new coronavirus cases and a fourth death
San Luis Obispo County reported a fourth coronavirus-related death and 32 additional COVID-19 patients Thursday, bringing the total number of people who locally tested positive for COVID-19 since March to 877, according to ReadySLO.org.
The most recent death, was a 52-year-old who had significant underlying health condition and was living in a long-term care facility that experienced an outbreak, according to the county news release.
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.
SLO County’s COVID-19 cases by the numbers
A majority of San Luis Obispo County residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 — 612 — have completely recovered from the illness.
A total of 247 people are still recovering at home. Thirteen patients are receiving hospital treatment, five of whom are in intensive care units.
Four local residents have died from COVID-19, two of whom died this week.
The Paso Robles area continues to have the most COVID-19 cases in the county with 214.
That city is followed by San Luis Obispo, which has 144 cases, and Nipomo with 127. Atascadero has 93 and Arroyo Grande is at 68 cases total.
Templeton has 29 cases, Grover Beach has 34, San Miguel has 35 and Pismo Beach has 26. The California Men’s Colony has reported 11 cases.
Morro Bay has 11, Los Osos has 17 and Shandon has six. Oceano has 17 cases and Cambria has seven.
Santa Margarita has seven, Cayucos has six and Avila Beach has five.
Other areas — defined as cities or communities with fewer than five cases — have 15 cases altogether. And five cases are listed as unknown.
In total, 181 cases involve people ages 50 to 64, 106 cases involve people age 65 to 84, and 17 are people over the age of 85 years old.
There are 244 residents aged 30 to 49 who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and 251 residents aged 18 to 29 years old. The remaining 78 cases involve people age 17 and younger.
San Luis Obispo County public and private health labs have conducted at least 25,54 tests as of Tuesday. The county has not released an updated number of tests since July 7.
Where to get a COVID-19 test
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, the county can no longer keep up with an increased demand in testing.
On Wednesday, Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein asked that only community members with COVID-19 symptoms and those who work in high-risk settings, such as essential workers and congregate living facility workers, get tested.
Pop-up testing clinics will be staffed by county employees and analyzed at the Public Health Department lab, which has recently increased its testing capacity to 300 tests per day.
In addition to the pop-up testing events, free COVID-19 testing is available at ongoing sites in Grover Beach and San Luis Obispo.
▪ Grover Beach: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ramona Garden Park, 993 Ramona Ave.
▪ San Luis Obispo: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Veterans Memorial Hall, 801 Grand Ave.
Testing is available through private healthcare providers, urgent care centers and the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Lab.
Visit ReadySLO.org for the latest public health updates and recommendations.
To make an appointment, visit emergencySLO.org/testing; you can register by phone at 888-634-1123.
The county continues to ask that people limit large social gatherings and wear face coverings in public spaces when physical distancing can’t be maintained, in accordance with a state mandate issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 1:50 PM.
