2 more COVID deaths reported, bringing SLO County’s total to 368
San Luis Obispo County recorded two new deaths due to COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to the Public Health Department.
The county did not disclose the age range of the two people who died. A total of 368 SLO County residents have now died from the virus over the course of the pandemic, dating back to March 2020.
Locally, hospitalizations remain stable this week, according to Public Health, with 15 people receiving inpatient treatment, including 4 in the intensive care unit.
Over the last four days, 158 new cases have been reported, pushing the 14-day average up a bit to 41, the first time that number has been above the 30s in more than a month.
The increase comes following the Thanksgiving holiday, with Christmas gatherings just around the corner.
While that number has ticked up a bit, it’s a far cry from last year. On this date in 2020, daily cases counts were accelerating precipitously into a winter surge that eventually peaked in mid-January with a 14-day average of 331 daily cases.
While SLO County’s numbers are remaining stable, other places in California have seen steep increases after Thanksgiving, prompting the state to reissue the public indoor mask mandate. SLO County reinstated its indoor mandate in September.
Here’s how local coronavirus case numbers from the past four break down day by day:
The county 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. 10 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
Atascadero: 24
Paso Robles: 14
Templeton: 8
Creston: 1
Shandon: 1
South County
Arroyo Grande: 29
Nipomo: 16
Grover Beach: 10
Pismo Beach: 8
Oceano: 6
SLO and North Coast
San Luis Obispo: 23
Los Osos: 6
Morro Bay: 4
Cal Poly (campus residents): 3
Cambria: 3
Cayucos: 1
The locations of 56 cases were listed as “other.” A total of 121 cases remained under investigation.
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.