COVID numbers drop as SLO County moves past worst of omicron surge
San Luis Obispo County appears to be past the worst of the omicron surge as new COVID-19 cases decline from the all-time highs hit late last month.
The Public Health Department reported two new deaths on Friday, but hospitalizations are declining. The new deaths occurred in the 50-64 and 65-84 age range and bring the county’s pandemic total to 404.
The health department is working with the county Coroner’s Office to review and certify 25 pending death records that local physicians said were caused by COVID-19, according to a news release from the Public Health Department.
SLO County hospitals were treating 36 people as of Friday, with six in the intensive care unit. Total hospitalizations were as high as 67 just over a week ago.
New daily cases are also falling, with 645 reported over the last three days.
That has reversed the trend on the 14-day average, which is now dropping steadily. It was at 474 on Friday after spending a week above 600.
Active cases are also well off their omicron highs, down more than 1,700 in eight days to 2,505.
Public Health said in the news release that more than 25% of coronavirus tests come up as positive at the community testing sites.
“More than one in four people getting tested at our community sites are positive for COVID-19, which indicates the virus continues to spread widely,” County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said in the release. “Although this is down a bit from a high of more than 30% in January, we remain in an unstable period driven by the omicron variant. We also recognize that reported numbers are likely low, due to an increasing number of cases diagnosed with at-home tests.”
In total, 48,678 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 agency on Jan. 28 released data showing that unvaccinated people account for about 65% of COVID-19 cases, 78.5% of hospitalizations and 75% 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 the county public health department:
North County
Paso Robles: 121
Atascadero: 54
San Miguel: 15
Templeton: 11
Santa Margarita: 7
Creston: 3
Shandon: 3
Atascadero State Hospital: 2
South County
Nipomo: 78
Arroyo Grande: 77
Grover Beach: 36
Oceano: 17
Pismo Beach: 13
SLO and North Coast
San Luis Obispo: 125
Los Osos: 24
Morro Bay: 24
Cal Poly (campus residents): 14
Cambria: 5
Cayucos: 5
San Simeon: 2
The locations of 45 cases were listed as “other.” A total of 414 cases remained under investigation.
Outbreaks at the California Men’s Colony state prison, Cal Poly and Atascadero State Hospital have been greater than indicated by county data, according to data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Cal Poly and the Department of State Hospitals.
CDCR had recorded 2,916 total coronavirus cases among CMC inmates as of Feb. 4, with 222 active cases in custody and 262 new cases in the past 14 days. A total of 13 inmates have died due to COVID-19.
DSH reported on Feb. 3 that 315 patients have tested positive at Atascadero State Hospital since May 2020. The agency reports 20 of those patients have tested positive within the past 14 days.
ASH has reported at least one but fewer than 11 deaths among patients who tested positive for COVID-19. The facility had no hospitalized coronavirus patients as of Feb. 4 and has not said how many were hospitalized in the past.
Cal Poly’s documented total of coronavirus cases in the past seven days involving both on-campus and off-campus students was 7 as of Feb. 4.
SLO County coronavirus cases by the numbers
Here are the total number of COVID-19 cases in communities throughout San Luis Obispo County.
- San Luis Obispo: 9,402
- Paso Robles: 9,220
- Atascadero: 5,413
- Arroyo Grande: 4,360
- Nipomo: 3,989
- California Men’s Colony: 2,664
- Grover Beach: 2,337
- Templeton: 1,684
Oceano: 1,531
Los Osos: 1,506
Morro Bay: 1,369
Pismo Beach: 1,035
San Miguel: 1,035
Cal Poly (campus residents): 904
Cambria: 486
Santa Margarita: 366
Shandon: 351
Cayucos: 274
Atascadero State Hospital: 270
Creston: 200
Avila Beach: 102
San Simeon: 71
For a detailed look at local coronavirus cases by age, occupation and more, visit the county’s COVID data portal.
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.
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 on clinic hours, visit slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/Vaccines
This story was originally published February 4, 2022 at 2:14 PM.