500 new COVID cases reported in 2 days as omicron spreads through SLO County
More than 500 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in San Luis Obispo County in the past two days, according to a news release from the county Public Health Department.
The sudden spike has translated into increased pressure on local hospitals, where 26 residents are now being treated for the virus, including eight in intensive care units. There have been five new hospitalizations in the past two days, according to county data.
No new deaths were reported in the past two days, and the total remains at 373 since the start of the pandemic.
Public Health said that the surge in new cases is likely due to the spread of the highly contagious omicron and delta variants as well as more holiday gatherings and travel.
The county has now tallied 25 omicron cases, including 17 in the latest data update.
“Omicron is spreading quickly in SLO County and now is the time to do our part to help halt this surge,” said Dr. Rick Rosen, deputy health officer for the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department.
There are likely more coronavirus cases with the omicron variant, but only a small sample are analyzed to determine the underlying variant, according to the release.
The surge has also driven up the number of active cases in SLO County. In just 10 days, the number of active coronavirus cases more than tripled from 334 on Dec. 21 to 1,130 cases on Dec. 30, according to county data.
The last time the number of active cases were near this number was on Aug. 15, when delta was surging and the number of active cases was at 1,126.
The 14-day average of new daily cases has also spiked and is now at 101. This is a substantial increase from a two-week average of 36 new cases at the end of November, the release said.
In total, 32,558 San Luis Obispo County residents have tested positive for coronavirus since March 2020.
Here is how the number of new coronavirus cases from the past two days breaks down:
- Wednesday: 155
- Thursday: 353
Rosen said that people who feel sick or think they could have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should get tested and stay home this New Year’s weekend.
“We have the tools to slow this surge: vaccines, boosters, masking and testing,” Rosen said. “Each of us can take steps to interrupt the transmission of COVID-19 and protect others here in San Luis Obispo County.”
On Thursday, people lined up to get free COVID tests at a Public Health popup site at the Atascadero Lake Pavilion. Organizers said they administered 60 tests an hour.
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 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: 67
Atascadero: 47
Templeton: 18
Atascadero State Hospital: 4
San Miguel: 4
Santa Margarita: 2
Creston: 1
South County
Arroyo Grande: 56
Nipomo: 44
Grover Beach: 29
Pismo Beach: 19
Oceano: 14
Avila Beach: 1
SLO and North Coast
San Luis Obispo: 143
Los Osos: 27
Morro Bay: 16
Cayucos: 5
Cal Poly (campus residents): 2
Cambria: 2
San Simeon: 2
The locations of 25 cases were listed as “other.” A total of 201 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: 6,421
- San Luis Obispo: 6.034
Atascadero: 3,505
Arroyo Grande: 2,642
Nipomo: 2,560
California Men’s Colony: 2,383
- Grover Beach: 1,461
Templeton: 1,165
Oceano: 1,008
Los Osos: 882
San Miguel: 764
Morro Bay: 736
Cal Poly (campus residents): 729
Pismo Beach: 632
Cambria: 304
Santa Margarita: 257
Shandon: 251
Atascadero State Hospital: 218
Cayucos: 142
Creston: 138
Avila Beach: 60
San Simeon: 40
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 slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/COVID-19-Testing or call 888-634-1123 to register by phone.
Testing is administered at 801 Grand Ave in San Luis Obispo, 1336 Ramona Ave #A in Grover Beach, 209 Surf St. in Morro Bay and 800 Pine St. in Paso Robles.
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.
Vaccines are administered at 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 slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/Vaccines
