SLO County sets a one-day record for new COVID-19 cases

San Luis Obispo County added 74 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, one of the highest daily number of cases to date, bringing the total number of people who have locally tested positive for COVID-19 since March to 1,467, according to ReadySLO.org.

As of Thursday, there were a total of 481 local active COVID-19 cases.

In the North County, Paso Robles added 21 COVID-19 cases, Atascadero added 15, Templeton added two and Shandon added one.

In the South County, Arroyo Grande gained eight COVID-19 cases. Grover Beach added three, Nipomo added four and Oceano had five new cases.

In the North Coast area, Morro Bay added one case and Los Osos added two new cases.

And in San Luis Obispo, seven new cases were reported Thursday.

Of the most recent local cases, 27 involve people 50 and older, while 47 involve people under the age of 50. Two cases remain under investigation.

Of the new COVID-19 cases reported on Thursday, 70 were under investigation, the county said. Three new cases appeared to be transmitted by community spread and one case by travel.

SLO County’s COVID-19 cases by the numbers

A majority of San Luis Obispo County residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 — 978 — have completely recovered from the illness.

A total of 465 people are still recovering at home. Of the 14 patients receiving hospital treatment, four patients remain in intensive care units.

Eight local residents have died from COVID-19, including a person in their 80s who had underlying health conditions.

According to the county public health department, cases are categorized by zip code rather than city or town limits.

The Paso Robles area continues to have the most COVID-19 cases in the county with 358.

That city is followed by San Luis Obispo, which has 225 cases, and Nipomo with 205. Atascadero has 157 and Arroyo Grande is at 131 cases total.

Grover Beach has 69 cases, Templeton has 56, San Miguel has 45 and Pismo Beach has 41.

Oceano has 33 cases, Los Osos has 31 and Morro Bay has 18.

Cambria has 13 cases, while Santa Margarita has 13. Cayucos has nine cases, Shandon has nine and Avila Beach has six.

The California Men’s Colony reported 11 inmates with positive coronavirus results.

Other areas — defined as cities or communities with fewer than five cases — have 26 cases altogether. And 11 cases are listed as under investigation.

In total, 275 cases involve people ages 50 to 64, 158 cases involve people age 65 to 84, and 34 are people over the age of 85 years old.

There are 444 residents aged 30 to 49 who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and 413 residents aged 18 to 29 years old. The remaining 141 cases involve people age 17 and younger. The ages of two local patients are unknown.

In total, 445 cases were acquired by person-to-person contact, meaning the patient came into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case. A total of 121 cases are travel related, according to ReadySLO.org.

Another 382 cases were acquired by community spread, which means patients do not know if they came into direct contact with a confirmed case and they did not acquire COVID-19 by travel.

And 519 coronavirus cases are still under investigation by county contact tracers.

San Luis Obispo County public and private health labs have conducted at least 34,099 tests locally.

Where to get a COVID-19 test

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, San Luis Obispo County says it can no longer keep up with an increased demand in testing.

On July 8, county 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.

A pop-up testing facility will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at the Paso Robles City Study Center, 3600 Oak St., Suite 101, in Paso Robles.

Testing will also be available Monday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Tuesday and Wednesday, July 28 and 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Morro Bay Veterans Memorial Building, 209 Surf St. in Morro Bay.

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.