SLO County adds 78 new cases of coronavirus over weekend
San Luis Obispo County added 78 new cases of coronavirus since Friday, according to ReadySLO.org.
That brings the total number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 locally since March to 3,438.
According to the county, 42 cases of COVID-19 were added Saturday, 17 on Sunday and 19 were added Monday.
The county’s total does not include eight of the 297 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.
As of Sept. 15, San Luis Obispo County met California’s two COVID-19 testing metrics to drop from the highest tier of restrictions, according to ReadySLO.org.
But it must stay there for two weeks before any action can occur. The updated metrics are released every Tuesday.
The county has had a positivity rate of 2.9%, well below the 8% threshold needed to drop from purple Tier 1 to red Tier 2.
In the cases-per-100,000-tests metric, the county sat at 6.3 on Sept. 15, below the threshold of seven needed to drop down.
New data will be released Tuesday to determine whether the county may move forward in reopening.
New COVID-19 cases by city
The city of San Luis Obispo has added 19 news cases of COVID-19 since Friday — at least five of whom were off-campus Cal Poly students.
In the North County, Paso Robles gained 13 news cases of coronavirus, Shandon added nine, and Atascadero added three cases. Creston and Templeton added two cases.
In South County, Pismo Beach added seven cases of COVID-19, Grover Beach added six coronavirus cases and Arroyo Grande added five cases. Nipomo added four and Oceano added two cases.
In the North Coast, Morro Bay added four and Cambria added one.
Three of the cases reported Friday that were under investigation had been resolved.
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 — 3,177— have completely recovered from the illness.
A total of 218 people are recovering at home. Thirteen patients are receiving hospital treatment, with five patients in intensive care units.
In total, 184 patients have been admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19.
A total of 27 county residents have died due to coronavirus as of Monday, including a person in their 80s who had underlying health conditions, according to the county Public Health Department.
A total of 297 inmates and 56 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.
Seven CMC inmates were released while active and 263 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 90 Cal Poly students and six faculty and staff members have tested positive for coronavirus since July 8, according to the university. Five off-campus students tested positive over the weekend, however no on-campus students tested positive in the last three days.
Three students who live on campus were in isolation as of Monday. In addition, 89 Cal Poly students were in quarantine.
San Luis Obispo County public and private health labs conduct an average of 290.9 tests per 100,000 per day, according to the county. The state average is 217.9.
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,. Monday through Friday.
Testing is also available at the Veterans Memorial Building, 209 Surf St. in Morro Bay, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
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.
In addition, COVID-19 testing is available through private healthcare providers, urgent care centers and the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Lab.
Coronavirus testing will be available at the Pavilion on the Lake, 9315 Pismo Ave. in Atascadero, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, through Oct. 1.
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 21, 2020 at 1:20 PM.
