SLO County adds 168 new coronavirus cases, as active cases continue to skyrocket
San Luis Obispo County added 168 new coronavirus cases Thursday, as the number of active COVID-19 cases continued to skyrocket.
On Thursday, the county Public Health Department reported an additional death due to COVID-19 — involving a person in their 60s. That brings the total number of local coronavirus deaths to 67.
A total of 9,471 San Luis Obispo County residents have tested positive for coronavirus since mid-March, the county said.
Of those, a record 2,324 cases were considered active as of Thursday.
Meanwhile, local hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have remained high after top health leaders warned of “dire consequences” due to limited capacity.
As of Thursday, San Luis Obispo County remained in California’s most restrictive tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy and under the Southern California regional stay-at-home order.
The county returned to the purple tier on Nov. 16. The stay-at-home order went into effect Dec. 6.
What is ICU bed availability in Southern California and SLO County?
According to the state, 21 of San Luis Obispo County ICU beds were available as of Monday.
Even though San Luis Obispo County’s ICU availability isn’t below 15%, the ICU availability in the Southern California region means that the county falls under a new stay-at-home order.
San Luis Obispo County is considered to be part of the Southern California region — along with Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
As of Thursday, ICU availability in the Southern California region remained at 0%, health department data showed.
New COVID-19 cases by city
Here is where new COVID-19 cases were added Thursday in San Luis Obispo County, according to ReadySLO.org:
- California Men’s Colony: 45
- San Luis Obispo 29
- Atascadero: 17
Paso Robles: 16
Nipomo: 9
Arroyo Grande: 6
Los Osos: 6
Grover Beach: 4
Oceano” 4
Morro Bay: 3
San Miguel: 3
Templeton: 2
Cayucos: 1
Santa Margarita: 1
- Atascadero State Hospital: 1
The locations of 12 cases were listed as “other.” A total of 62 cases were under investigation.
Outbreaks at the California Men’s Colony and Atascadero State Hospital have been greater than indicated by county data, according to data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of State Hospitals — which oversee coronavirus cases at the two facilities respectively.
The CDCR has recorded 689 total coronavirus cases among CMC inmates Thursday.
Similarly, the county’s data for ASH does not match that of the DSS.
According to the DSS, ASH had a total of 95 coronavirus-positive patients as of Wednesday.
Cal Poly’s documented total of coronavirus cases involving both on-campus and off-campus students was 756 as of Tuesday.
For a detailed look at local coronavirus cases by age, occupation and more, visit ReadySLO.org.
SLO County coronavirus cases by the numbers
Here’s a look at San Luis Obispo County’s cases on Thursday, according to the county Public Health Department:
- Active cases: 2,324
- Recovered cases: 7,063
- People recovering at home: 2,269
- People receiving hospital care: 55
- People in intensive care units: 8
- Deaths due to COVID-19: 67
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.
Free coronavirus testing is available at clinics throughout San Luis Obispo County:
- Grover Beach: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ramona Garden Park Center, 993 Ramona Ave.
- Morro Bay: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Veterans Memorial Building, 209 Surf St.
Nipomo: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Senior Center 200 E. Dana St.
- Paso Robles: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Frontier Pavilion, Paso Robles Event Center, 2198 Riverside Ave.
- San Luis Obispo: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Veterans Memorial Hall, 801 Grand Ave.
In addition, COVID-19 testing is available through private healthcare providers, urgent care centers and the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Lab.
San Luis Obispo County public health officials urge people to use self-swab at-home tests if they are not experiencing coronavirus symptoms or have not been exposed to a person who has COVID-19.
Visit ReadySLO.org for the latest public health updates and recommendations. ReadySLO.org lists more than a dozen urgent care centers that offer COVID-19 testing.
To make an appointment, visit emergencySLO.org/testing; you can register by phone at 888-634-1123.
How to report a COVID-19 code violation
To report violations of coronavirus-related orders meant to limit the spread of COVID-19, call the San Luis Obispo County COVID Enforcement hotline at 805-788-2222 or email covid-compliance@co.slo.ca.us.