SLO County adds 27 coronavirus cases — and 2 deaths
San Luis Obispo County added 27 coronavirus cases and two deaths due to COVID-19 on Friday, according to ReadySLO.org.
A total of 3,074 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus in San Luis Obispo County since March, the county reported.
The total does not include 12 of the 274 inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 at California Men’s Colony state prison in San Luis Obispo, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
According to the county, the most recent deaths involved a 90-year-old person with chronic conditions and a person in their 50s with no underlying health conditions.
County Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said at a Wednesday news briefing that the county only counts a person’s death as a coronavirus death if COVID-19 was one of the causes of death and if Borenstein has seen the final death certificate.
“We had made a decision some weeks ago that in our county we would only count those that have underlying cause of death listed as COVID,” Borenstein said.
New COVID-19 cases by city
The city of San Luis Obispo added 14 new coronavirus cases. The California Men’s Colony added one case, according to the county.
In the North County, Paso Robles added six cases of COVID-19, Atascadero and Creston both added two cases and Templeton added one.
In the South County, Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach each added one case.
On the North Coat, Cayucos added two cases and Morro Bay added one.
Two cases have been removed from the “under investigation” category since 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 — 3,074 — have completely recovered from the illness.
A total of 2,654 people are still recovering at home. Of the 10 patients receiving hospital treatment, four patients were in intensive care units.
In total, 169 patients have been admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19.
A total of 22 county residents have died due to coronavirus, including a person in their 90s with chronic conditions and a person in their 50s with no underlying health conditions.
According to the county Public Health Department, cases are categorized by zip code rather than city or town limits.
A total of 274 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 203 inmates have recovered, the CDCR said. (The case numbers reported on the CDCR website vary from those reported on ReadySLO.org, due to “delays in the state’s reporting system.”)
A total of 63 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 at least 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. Testing data was not updated 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,” 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 4, 2020 at 1:51 PM.
