Another SLO County resident dies of COVID as hospitalizations rise

Another San Luis Obispo County resident has died from COVID-19, according to the Public Health Department.

The latest death means that since March 2020, a total of 366 local people have lost their lives due to the virus.

Two weeks out from Thanksgiving holiday gatherings, the county is now also seeing a rise in hospitalizations, with 16 people receiving inpatient treatment as of Friday, including four in the intensive care unit.

Only six people were hospitalized as recently as Nov. 28.

Despite that increase, new daily case counts remain steady, with 109 reported since Tuesday. The number of active cases now stands at 276, dropping a bit after five straight days above 300.

Here’s how local coronavirus case numbers from the past three days break down day by day:

The Public Health Department is not providing information about how many newly reported individual cases, hospitalizations and deaths involve vaccinated and unvaccinated people due to resource limitations and privacy concerns.

Instead, Public Health is releasing weekly data showing the percentages of unvaccinated people who’ve contracted COVID-19, received hospital treatment for the virus or died from it since June 15.

The agency on Dec. 3 released data showing that unvaccinated people account for about 77% of COVID-19 cases, 82% of hospitalizations and 73% of deaths since June 15.

New COVID-19 cases by city

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

North County

• Paso Robles: 21

• Atascadero: 20

• Templeton: 20

• Creston: 1

• Santa Margarita: 1

• San Miguel: 1

South County

• Arroyo Grande: 11

• Nipomo: 9

• Oceano: 6

• Grover Beach: 3

• Pismo Beach: 3

SLO and North Coast

• San Luis Obispo: 21

• Los Osos: 7

• Morro Bay: 2

• Cal Poly (campus residents): 2

• Cambria: 1

• Cayucos: 1

The locations of 22 cases were listed as “other.” A total of 176 cases remained under investigation.

SLO County coronavirus cases by the numbers

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

• Paso Robles: 6,188
• San Luis Obispo: 5,622

• Atascadero: 3,310

• Arroyo Grande: 2,454

• California Men’s Colony: 2,383

• Nipomo: 2,411

• Grover Beach: 1,363

• Templeton: 1,102

• Oceano: 972

• Los Osos: 821

• San Miguel: 750

• Cal Poly (campus residents): 719

• Morro Bay: 681

• Pismo Beach: 571

• Cambria: 293

• Santa Margarita: 245

• Shandon: 239

• Atascadero State Hospital: 212

• Cayucos: 128

• Creston: 127

• Avila Beach: 54

• San Simeon: 38

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, Grover Beach, Paso Robles and Morro Bay. To make an appointment, visit emergencySLO.org/testing or call 888-634-1123 to register by phone.

To make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255. The county Public Health Department is also administering vaccines and boosters on a walk-in basis at clinics in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Grover Beach. To find shots at pharmacies near you, visit Vaccines.gov.

The clinics are open Monday and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch), and Saturdays for vaccines only from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The San Luis Obispo clinic is located at 2191 Johnson Ave., the Grover Beach clinic is located at 286 South 16th St. and the Paso Robles clinic is located at 800 Pine St.

For more information, visit RecoverSLO.org/en/when-and-where-can-you-get-vaccinated.aspx.