SLO County reports seventh coronavirus-related death
A seventh San Luis Obispo County resident has died due to COVID-19, the county Public Health Department reported Tuesday.
The person was in their 80s and lived in a North County nursing home that had experienced a coronavirus outbreak, the county said in a news release. The person had multiple chronic health conditions but was not hospitalized.
The county did not identify the nursing facility or the suspected source of transmission.
“We have lost another member of our community to this disease and I offer our sincere condolences to the family and all those who are touched by this loss,” county public health officer Penny Borenstein said in the release. “We are seeing an uptick in cases in congregate settings such as skilled nursing facilities in SLO County and we need everyone to do their part to help slow the spread of this disease.”
As of Tuesday, 1,369 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the county. A total of 903 local patients have recovered, 448 are currently recovering at home and 10 are currently hospitalized, with four in intensive care units.
The county reported its first COVID-19-related death on April 4nd a second on July 1. Four more coronavirus-related deaths have occurred in San Luis Obispo County in July.
The Public Health Department said in Tuesday’s release that medical research shows that while COVID-19 has flu-like symptoms, it is more contagious than the flu among most populations and age groups.
Citing the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Department said that COVID-19 can quickly spread to a lot of people and result in continuous spread among people as time progresses.
CDC data also indicates that it’s possible for people to spread the virus for about two days before experiencing signs or symptoms and remain contagious for at least 10 days after signs or symptoms first appeared, the county.
The county is reminding people at higher risk to stay home as much as possible.
All residents, regardless of risk factors, should take precautions to limit the spread of COVID19, the county said.
“Together we can slow the spread of COVID-19 and break the chain of transmission,” Borenstein wrote. “Please avoid social and multi-family gatherings, maintain six feet of distance when leaving the house, and wear a face covering in public as recommended.”
For updates on COVID-19 in San Luis Obispo County, visit ReadySLO.org or call the recorded Public Health Information Line at 805-788-2903. A staffed phone assistance center at 805-543-2444 is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist with questions related to COVID-19.
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 2:39 PM.
