SLO County adds 50 cases of coronavirus

San Luis Obispo County added 50 coronavirus cases Thursday, according to ReadySLO.org.

A total of 2,842 people have tested positive for coronavirus in San Luis Obispo County since March, the county reported.

That number does not include five of the 244 California Men’s Colony inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19.

New COVID-19 cases by city

The city of San Luis Obispo added 21 new coronavirus cases.

In the North County, Paso Robles added eight cases of COVID-19, while Atascadero added four cases. Creston, San Miguel, Shandon and Templeton each added one coronavirus case.

In the South County, Grover Beach added six cases of coronavirus. Arroyo Grande added two cases, and Nipomo added one.

On the North Coast, Morro Bay added one case.

The locations of three of the newest cases were under investigation Thursday.

For a detailed look at local coronavirus cases by age, ethnicity, occupation and more, visit ReadySLO.org.

SLO County coronavirus cases by the numbers

A majority of San Luis Obispo County residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 — 2,364 — have completely recovered from the illness.

A total of 443 people are still recovering at home. Of the 13 patients receiving hospital treatment, four patients remain in intensive care units.

In total, 161 patients have been admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19.

A total of 21 county residents have died due to coronavirus, including the person in their 30s who died Aug. 21.

According to the county Public Health Department, cases are categorized by zip code rather than city or town limits.

A total of 39 Cal Poly students and six faculty and staff members have tested positive for coronavirus since March, according to the San Luis Obispo university. Of those cases, 39 were in San Luis Obispo County.

Cal Poly said it has conducted more than 450 tests at its Health Center.

At the California Men’s Colony, a total of 244 inmates and 34 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-March, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Six of the inmates were released while active and 82 inmates have recovered, the CDCR said. (The case numbers reported on the CDCR website vary slightly from those reported on ReadySLO.org, due to “delays in the state’s reporting system.”)

San Luis Obispo County public and private health labs have conducted at least 54,005 tests locally, adding 220 tests between Wednesday and Thursday.

Where to get a COVID-19 test

The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department is urging anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, or those who have come into contact with someone with the virus, to get tested.

“If you think you have been exposed, stay home and make an appointment online to get tested at least five days after exposure,” county Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said in a news release. “Please also stay home until you receive your test results. We don’t want anyone unknowingly spreading COVID-19.”

A new testing site will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sept. 3 at Nipomo Senior Center at 200 E. Dana St.

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 August 27, 2020 at 1:24 PM.