3 people have died from COVID in SLO County in past weeks, public health officials warn

After close to two months without reports of a new coronavirus death, San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials announced that three more residents died due to COVID-19 in the past several weeks.

According to Public Health, one resident was in their 50s, while one was in their 60s and one was in their 70s.

“It is heartbreaking to lose valued members of our community to COVID-19, and even more painful now that we have the tools to protect each other and prevent this kind of tragic loss,” county Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said in a news release. “I extend my sincere condolences to the family, friends and loved ones who are mourning today.”

There was a delay in reporting the deaths to the public because the health department had to confirm the death certificates, Public Health spokeswoman Michelle Shoresman told The Tribune on Tuesday.

The deaths mark the first confirmed COVID-19 deaths since May 17.

Shoresman said all three of the individuals were unvaccinated.

These deaths follow an increase in cases and hospitalizations statewide as California more fully reopens and as the more highly-transmissible Delta variant takes hold, according to the release.

“I beg our community: let this be our county’s last loss of life from this horrible disease,” Borenstein said. “I urge you to please protect yourself, your most vulnerable neighbors and those you love by getting vaccinated today.”

Meanwhile, San Luis Obispo County added 70 new coronavirus cases over the past week, according to data from the county Public Health Department.

That is almost twice as many cases as were reported the previous week, when 36 new coronavirus cases were recorded in San Luis Obispo County.

Here’s how that breaks down day-by-day:

• July 7: 4
• July 8: 18
• July 9: 9
• July 10: 12
• Sunday: 8
• Monday: 8
• Tuesday: 11

In total, 21,588 San Luis Obispo County residents have tested positive for coronavirus since March 2020.

New COVID-19 cases by city

Here is where new COVID-19 cases were added this week in San Luis Obispo County, according to ReadySLO.org:

North County

• Paso Robles: 16

• Atascadero: 7

• Templeton: 4

• Creston: 1

• Santa Margarita: 1

South County

• Arroyo Grande: 12

• Nipomo: 6

• Grover Beach: 3

• Pismo Beach: 2

• Oceano: 1

SLO and North Coast

• San Luis Obispo: 10

• Los Osos: 6

• California Men’s Colony: 1

• Morro Bay: 1

The locations of seven cases were listed as “other.” A total of 17 cases remained under investigation.

Cal Poly’s testing program halted for the summer, and the university had not released new COVID-19 case totals as of Tuesday.

SLO County coronavirus cases by the numbers

Here’s a look at San Luis Obispo County’s cases on Tuesday, according to the county Public Health Department.

• Active cases: 93
• Recovered cases: 21,231
• People recovering at home: 87
• People receiving hospital care: 6
• Total people in intensive care units: 0

• People in intensive care units out of the county: 0

• Deaths due to COVID-19: 264

Here are the total number of COVID-19 cases in communities throughout San Luis Obispo County.

• Paso Robles: 4,231
• San Luis Obispo: 4,064

• California Men’s Colony: 2,382

• Atascadero: 2,106

• Nipomo: 1,595

• Arroyo Grande: 1,526

• Grover Beach: 894

• Oceano: 694

• Templeton: 682

• Cal Poly (campus residents): 657

• San Miguel: 543

• Los Osos: 514

• Morro Bay: 449

• Pismo Beach: 348

• Atascadero State Hospital: 188

• Cambria: 185

• Santa Margarita: 155

• Shandon: 140

• Creston: 90

• Cayucos: 71

• Avila Beach: 30

• San Simeon: 20

The county also breaks down local coronavirus cases by race and ethnicity.

• White: 8,529
• Hispanic and Latino: 6,976
• Other and under investigation: 5,058
• Asian and Pacific Islander: 466
• Black or African American: 276
• Multiracial: 239
• American Indian or Alaska Native: 44

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

Where to get a COVID-19 test and schedule a vaccine appointment

Free coronavirus testing is available at clinics in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. To make an appointment, visit emergencySLO.org/testing; you can register by phone at 888-634-1123.

As of Tuesday, the county Public Health Department is administering coronavirus vaccines to everyone age 12 and up.

Those eligible to receive their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can register online or by phone for California’s My Turn appointment system. You can also walk in to any of the county’s clinics without an appointment to receive a vaccine.

To find appointments, visit MyTurn.ca.gov and complete the registration process. Those who need assistance registering for a vaccine can call 833-422-4255 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Sunday.

To sign up for email alerts, visit EmergencySLO.org/en/newsletter.aspx.

In addition to the state’s My Turn system, residents can find appointments for coronavirus vaccines through private health partners and some chain pharmacies, including CVS and Vons.

This story was originally published July 13, 2021 at 1:39 PM.

Kaytlyn Leslie

The Tribune

805-781-7928 (voicemails only)

Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.