SLO County reports one new COVID death and 16 people in the hospital

San Luis Obispo County reported a new COVID-19 death and 199 coronavirus infections over the past four days, according to data from the Public Health Department.

The person who died from COVID-19 was between the ages of 50 and 64. Locally, 371 people have died from the coronavirus.

There are 16 people receiving treatment for coronavirus in local hospitals as of Tuesday, according to the Public Health Department, including six patients in the intensive care unit.

The county now has 334 active COVID-19 cases, according to county public health data.

The number of active coronavirus cases in the month of December appears to be trending upward, with a low of 205 active coronavirus cases on Dec. 1 and a peak of 344 active COVID cases on Dec. 16.

The uptick in active coronavirus cases comes as Omicron overtakes Delta as the dominant coronavirus variant driving new infections in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Delta is still the most prominent variant in San Luis Obispo County as of Dec. 3, according to the Public Health Department. Only a small sample of positive coronavirus cases in the state and San Luis Obispo County are analyzed by the California Department of Public Health to determine the coronavirus variant driving the infection, according to the county.

However, the state Public Health Department told the county that the first Omicron coronavirus case was detected in a San Luis Obispo County resident last Friday.

In total, 31,391 San Luis Obispo County residents have tested positive for coronavirus since March 2020.

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

The two-week daily case average stands at 44 as of Tuesday. The last time the two-week case average was at 44 was on Oct. 27, according to county numbers. Since then, the two-week coronavirus case average dipped to a low of 33 the week before Thanksgiving and a high of 46 on Oct. 29, 2021.

Public Health 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, the department 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

• Paso Robles: 31

• Atascadero: 28

• Shandon: 6

• Templeton: 4

• Creston: 1

• Santa Margarita: 1

South County

• Nipomo: 20

• Grover Beach: 14

• Pismo Beach: 4

• Arroyo Grande: 3

• Oceano: 3

• Avila Beach: 1

SLO and North Coast

• San Luis Obispo: 45

• Los Osos: 6

• Morro Bay: 6

• Cambria: 3

• Cal Poly (campus residents): 2

• Cayucos: 1

The locations of 24 cases were listed as “other.” A total of 177 cases remained under investigation.

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.

The White House announced plans to purchase half a billion rapid coronavirus tests to be distributed for free to any American who wants a test, according to a news release from the administration. A website will be set up with distribution starting in January.

This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 3:52 PM.