6 months into local coronavirus pandemic, SLO County adds 56 cases and 3 deaths
Six months ago, the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in San Luis Obispo County.
As of Monday, a total of 3,278 people have tested positive for coronavirus locally since March, the county reported.
Over the weekend and Monday, San Luis Obispo County added 56 new cases and three deaths due to COVID-19.
One of the residents who died due to COVID-19 was in their 90s, and two were in their 80s, according to the County Public Health Department. All three had underlying health conditions.
According to the county, 28 coronavirus cases were added Saturday, 19 were added Sunday and nine were added Monday.
The county’s total does not include nine of the 291 total 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.
The county needs to have a case rate of less than seven new cases per 100,000 or around fewer than 20 new cases per day for two weeks in order for more business sectors to reopen indoors under new state guidelines.
According to ReadySLO.org, San Luis Obispo County has a case rate of 9.6 new cases per day per 100,000 people. The number has been adjusted due to the county’s high testing numbers.
New COVID-19 cases by city
The city of San Luis Obispo added 20 coronavirus cases since Friday.
In the North County, Paso Robles added 14 COVID-19 cases and Atascadero added five. Both San Miguel and Templeton added two cases and Santa Margarita added one.
In the South County, Nipomo added five coronavirus cases and Arroyo Grande added four.
On the North Coast, Morro Bay, Los Osos and Cambria each added one new case.
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 — 2,996 — have completely recovered from the illness.
A total of 190 people are recovering at home. Eleven patients are receiving hospital treatment, with three patients in intensive care units.
In total, 177 patients have been admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19.
A total of 26 county residents have died due to coronavirus, including three people over the age of 80.
According to the county Public Health Department, cases are categorized by zip code rather than city or town limits.
A total of 291 inmates and 51 employees at the California’s Men’s Colony have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-March, and one inmate has died due to the coronavirus, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Four additional employees at the prison tested positive since Friday, according to the CDCR.
Six CMC inmates were released while active and 209 inmates have recovered from coronavirus, 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 70 Cal Poly students and six faculty and staff members have tested positive for coronavirus since March, according to the San Luis Obispo university.
Six students who live on campus were in isolation as of Monday.
In addition, 10 Cal Poly students were in quarantine.
San Luis Obispo County public and private health labs conduct an average of 213.9 tests per 100,000 per day, according to the county. The county is no longer reporting the total number of tests conducted by private and public health labs.
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.”
Free COVID-19 testing is available at the South County Regional Center, 800 W. Branch St. in Arroyo Grande, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, through Sept 18. Beginning Sept. 21, testing will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m,. Monday through Friday.
Testing is also available at the Veteran’s Memorial Building, 209 Surf St. in Morro Bay, from 7 a.m. to 7.p.m., Tuesday through Friday, Saturday through Sept. 18.
In San Luis Obispo, testing is available at the Veterans Memorial Hall, 801 Grand Ave., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Testing will be available at that location Tuesday through Saturday.
In addition, COVID-19 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 14, 2020 at 1:29 PM.
