Coronavirus updates: Cal Poly students get COVID-19 grants, sheriff’s deputy tests positive
San Luis Obispo County has had 1,644 coronavirus cases since mid-March, adding 144 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
Cal Poly and Cuesta College students impacted by coronavirus are receiving financial aid through the federal CARES Act.
And a fifth San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office deputy tested positive for COVID-19.
Here are your local updates for Tuesday:
Cal Poly, Cuesta College get funding for students impacted by COVID-19
Cuesta College and Cal Poly were allocated more than $3.5 million and $14 million, respectively, from the federal CARES Act for students impacted by COVID-19.
Cuesta College, which has three campuses in San Luis Obispo County, will distribute nearly $1.8 million to students; the remaining money will go to coronavirus-related costs accrued by the college.
Cal Poly was allocated $14 million, half of which will go to students. The remainder will go to the university.
Cal Poly has already distributed most of the $7 million to more than 6,700 students, while Cuesta College has given about 40% of its CARES Act funds to nearly 780 students.
Santa Barbara County adds 77 new COVID-19 cases, nearly half in Santa Maria
Santa Barbara County Public Health Department officials announced 77 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total to 5,836, Noozhawk reported.
There were 79 COVID-19 patients in local hospitals, including 24 patients in intensive care units.
There were 308 active cases in the county, and 94 percent of those who have contracted the virus have fully recovered on Monday.
There were no newly confirmed COVID-19-related deaths in the county, with the total remaining at 32. The county’s last death was reported on July 15.
Of the new cases on Monday, 38 were in Santa Maria.
Fifth SLO County sheriff’s deputy tests positive for coronavirus
A fifth San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputy tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, the county Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.
This is the second patrol deputy to test positive for the virus. The first tested positive July 19. The other three deputies who have tested positive for coronavirus are correctional deputies who work at the San Luis Obispo County Jail.
Four of the coronavirus-positive sheriff’s deputies are recovering at home and one has already returned to work, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.
SLO County says to avoid gatherings to slow spread of COVID-19
San Luis Obispo County health officials are asking residents to avoid social and family gatherings after the county added 144 cases over the weekend.
As of Monday, the county has had 1,644 coronavirus cases since mid-March, 426 of which remain active.
Through contact tracing, the county has identified many cases have spread between households at holiday gatherings, birthday parties, graduation ceremonies and other small- to medium-sized gatherings, according to a county news release.
According to the release, many of the gatherings were indoors and involve people from multiple households being together for prolonged periods of time and sharing food or beverages.
