First SLO County resident in their 30s dies from COVID-19, as local death toll rises to 21
The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department reported Friday the death of the first resident in their 30s related to COVID-19.
The death of the unidentified person brings the number of COVID-19 deaths in San Luis Obispo County to 21.
The individual died at a Santa Barbara County hospital last week and was vulnerable to serious COVID-19 illness because of underlying health conditions, the agency said in a news release Friday.
“Our hearts are with the patient’s loved ones as we take this time to remember that COVID-19 can infect anyone at any age,” county Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said in the news release. “We have seen more COVID-19 cases in SLO County among people between the ages of 30 and 49 than any other age group.”
The county also reported 52 new cases on Friday.
A total of 2,906 people have tested positive in San Luis Obispo County since March. That number is higher than the county’s case count of 2,665 people, which does not include inmates from the California Men’s Colony.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 can quickly and easily spread to a lot of people and result in continuous spreading among people as time progresses, the news release says, and every individual’s actions can either limit or contribute to the spread.
“Please do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect those around you: Wear a face covering in public, stay six feet away from others, and avoid gatherings,” Borenstein wrote.
In addition, the county says people at a high risk for complications from COVID-19 should stay home as much as possible.
The majority of San Luis Obispo County deaths related to the disease have been in their 70s and 80s.
The county’s first COVID-19 death was reported in April.
For updates on COVID-19 in SLO County, visit ReadySLO.org or call the recorded Public Health Information Line at 805-788-2903. In addition, a staffed phone assistance center at 805-543-2444 is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist with questions related to COVID-19.
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 1:27 PM.
