SLO County adds 40 cases of coronavirus as California Men’s Colony outbreak grows

San Luis Obispo County added 40 coronavirus cases Friday, according to ReadySLO.org.

A total of 2,882 people have tested positive for coronavirus in San Luis Obispo County since March, the county reported.

That number does not include 36 of the 271 California Men’s Colony inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19.

As of Friday, 27 more inmates and one additional employee at the state prison in San Luis Obispo had tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

New COVID-19 cases by city

The city of San Luis Obispo added 16 new coronavirus cases.

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

In the South County, Oceano added three cases, and Nipomo added five.

On the North Coast, Cayucos and Los Osos each added one case.

The location of one of the newest cases was under investigation Friday.

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 — 2,413 — have completely recovered from the illness.

A total of 432 people are still recovering at home. Of the 15 patients receiving hospital treatment, two patients remain in intensive care units.

In total, 164 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 45 Cal Poly students, 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.

At the California Men’s Colony, a total of 271 inmates and 35 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-March, according to the CDCR.

Six of the inmates were released while active and 101 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 54,602 tests locally, adding 597 tests between Thursday and Friday.

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. Friday 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 28, 2020 at 2:21 PM.