Coronavirus

SLO County adds 12 new cases of COVID-19

San Luis Obispo County added 12 coronavirus cases Thursday, according to ReadySLO.org.

A total of 3,047 people have tested positive for coronavirus in San Luis Obispo County since March, the county reported.

That number does not include six of the 271 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 14 new coronavirus cases.

In the North County, Atascadero added three cases of COVID-19



In the South County, Nipomo added two cases, and Arroyo Grande and Oceano added one case each

The locations of three of the newest cases are listed as under investigation.

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

A discrepancy between the San Luis Obispo city cases and the total number of county cases is due to the change in status of some cases, county spokeswoman Michelle Shoresman said.

SLO County coronavirus cases by the numbers

A majority of San Luis Obispo County residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 — 3,047 — have completely recovered from the illness.

A total of 2,620 people have completely recovered, and 394 are still recovering at home. Of the nine patients receiving hospital treatment, three patients remain in intensive care units.

In total, 166 patients have been admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19.

A total of 20 county residents have died due to coronavirus, the county Public Health Department has said. However, that count does not include the death of a California Men’s Colony inmate who died due to COVID-19 on Sept. 1.

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

A total of 271 inmates and 41 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-March, and one inmate has died due to the COVID-19, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Six of the inmates were released while active and 168 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.”)

A total of 57 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, 57 were in San Luis Obispo County.

The university has tested 558 students through Campus Health & Wellbeing.

San Luis Obispo County public and private health labs had conducted at least 55,708 tests locally as of Thursday, according to their website.

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.”

Two new San Luis Obispo County locations open for coronavirus testing on Sept. 8 at South County Regional Center, 800 W. Branch St. in Arroyo Grande, and Veteran’s Memorial Building, 209 Surf St. in Morro Bay.

Testing will be available at the Morro Bay location 7 a.m. to 7.p.m., Tuesday through Friday, from Sept. 8 to Sept. 18.



The Arroyo Grande location will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, Sept. 8 through Sept 12. and Sept. 15 through Sept 18. Beginning Sept. 21, testing will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Free COVID-19 testing is also available at these sites:

  • Grover Beach: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ramona Garden Park, 993 Ramona Ave. Location closes Friday.
  • San Luis Obispo: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Veterans Memorial Hall, 801 Grand Ave. For the week of Sept. 6, testing will be available Sept. 8 through Sept. 12.

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 September 3, 2020 at 2:19 PM.

CORRECTION: The number of people shown recovered at home was incorrect. The information was updated to, “A total of 394 people are recovering at home and 2,620 people have completely recovered.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2020

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Sarah Linn
The Tribune
Sarah Linn is an editor and reporter on the West Service Journalism Team, working with journalists in Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Merced and San Luis Obispo in California and Bellingham, Olympia and Tri-Cities in Washington, as well as Boise, Idaho. She previously served as the Local/Entertainment Editor of The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, working there for nearly two decades. A graduate of Oregon State University, she has earned multiple California journalism awards.
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