SLO County reaches 1,500 positive COVID-19 cases

San Luis Obispo County added 33 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, bringing the total number of people who have locally tested positive for COVID-19 since March to 1,500, according to ReadySLO.org.

As of Friday, there were a total of 462 local active COVID-19 cases.

In the North County, Paso Robles added 16 COVID-19 cases, Atascadero added eight, Templeton added one.

In the South County, Pismo Beach had one COVID-19 case deducted. Grover Beach added three, Nipomo added four and Oceano had one new case.

In the North Coast area, Los Osos added two new cases.

And in San Luis Obispo, one new cases was reported Friday.

Of the most recent local cases, eight involve people 50 and older, while 27 involve people under the age of 50.

Of the new COVID-19 cases reported on Friday, the county said, four new cases appeared to be transmitted by community spread, seven cases were person to person, and one case by travel. Twenty-one were under investigation.

SLO County’s COVID-19 cases by the numbers

A majority of San Luis Obispo County residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 — 1,030 — have completely recovered from the illness.

A total of 449 people are still recovering at home. Of the 13 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 374.

That city is followed by San Luis Obispo, which has 226 cases, and Nipomo with 209. Atascadero has 165, and Arroyo Grande is at 131.

Grover Beach has 72 cases, Templeton has 57, San Miguel has 45 and Pismo Beach has 40.

Oceano has 34 cases, Los Osos has 33 and Morro Bay has 18.

Cambria and Santa Margarita have 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 29 cases altogether. And six cases are listed as under investigation.

In total, 279 cases involve people ages 50 to 64, 161 cases involve people age 65 to 84, and 35 are people over the age of 85 years old.

There are 451 residents aged 30 to 49 who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and 428 residents aged 18 to 29 years old. The remaining 146 cases involve people age 17 and younger.

In total, 452 cases were acquired by person-to-person contact, meaning the patient came into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case. A total of 122 cases are travel-related, according to ReadySLO.org.

Another 386 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 540 coronavirus cases are still under investigation by county contact tracers.

San Luis Obispo County public and private health labs have conducted at least 34,604 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.

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.

This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 2:02 PM.