3 new COVID deaths, 15 hospitalizations reported as Omicron arrives in SLO County

Three San Luis Obispo County residents between the ages of 30 and 70 have died from COVID-19 since Tuesday, according to a news release from the county Public Health Department.

This brings the death toll from COVID-19 to 370 community members.

“My heart breaks for these families who had someone they love taken too soon by this virus. We send our deepest sympathies to the loved ones they left behind,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health officer. “The actions we take today such as masking, getting fully vaccinated and boosted, and staying home if not well, can save lives in the weeks and months ahead.”

The agency reported 15 people were receiving treatment in area hospitals on Friday, according to the Public Health Department. There were also four patients in local intensive care units.

On Friday, the Public Health Department announced that the first Omicron COVID-19 case in a San Luis Obispo County resident has been detected.

Public Health reported a total of 153 new infections during the last three days ending Friday. The number of active coronavirus cases now stands at 314.

After a slight uptick early last week, the 14-day case average is slowly decreasing to an average of 39 new cases in the past two weeks as of Friday, according to Public Health data.

In total, 31,192 San Luis Obispo County residents have tested positive for coronavirus since March 2020.

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. 10 released data showing that unvaccinated people account for 76.7% 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: 21

• Paso Robles: 21

• Templeton: 7

• San Miguel: 5

• Creston: 3

• Shandon: 3

• Santa Margarita: 1

South County

• Arroyo Grande: 21

• Nipomo: 12

• Grover Beach: 8

• Pismo Beach: 6

• Avila Beach: 1

• Oceano: 1

SLO and North Coast

• San Luis Obispo: 15

• Morro Bay: 6

• Cal Poly (campus residents): 3

• Cayucos: 3

• Los Osos: 2

The locations of 23 cases were listed as “other.” A total of 178 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: 6223
• San Luis Obispo: 5670

• Atascadero: 3355

• Arroyo Grande: 2504

• California Men’s Colony: 2383

• Nipomo: 2439
  
  

• Grover Beach: 1381

• Templeton: 1117

• Oceano: 980

• Los Osos: 829

• San Miguel: 755

• Cal Poly (campus residents): 725

• Morro Bay: 691

• Pismo Beach: 585

• Cambria: 296

• Santa Margarita: 246

• Atascadero State Hospital: 214

• Shandon: 243

• Cayucos: 131

• Creston: 131

• Avila Beach: 55

• 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.

This story was originally published December 17, 2021 at 4:12 PM.