9 new COVID deaths reported as SLO County monitors growth of omicron BA.2 strain
The repercussions of the winter omicron wave continues in San Luis Obispo County, with nine new COVID-19 deaths reported in the past week.
The people who died from the virus ranged in age from the 60s to 90s, according to Public Health. Locally, 489 people have died due to the virus.
While deaths from severe COVID continue, the numbers of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to decline.
Only two people were in local hospitals for severe COVID as of Wednesday, according to Public Health, the lowest total since July. One of those patients is in the intensive care unit.
Over the last week, San Luis Obispo County added 237 new COVID cases, according to data from the county Public Health Department.
Here’s how local coronavirus case numbers from the past week break down day by day:
Reflecting the drop in new cases, the two-week rolling average has stayed stable at 27, the same number as last week, according to Public Health. That number fell to as low as 21 on Monday before creeping up a bit.
The number of active cases in the county stands at 151.
The last time the number of active cases and the 14-day average were this low was in July, after vaccines were widely introduced and before the delta wave.
While all signs point to the COVID crisis stabilizing, the Public Health Department warned that the BA.2 subvariant of omicron has been detected in San Luis Obispo County, according to a news release.
BA.2 seems to spread more rapidly than the original omicron variant and is becoming the dominant strain nationwide. Roughly 40% of the new COVID cases detected locally are attributable to the BA.2 omicron subvariant — similar to what is being seen throughout California, the release said.
“It is likely that BA.2 will become the dominant strain here in SLO County, but it is not yet clear if that will lead to a plateau or a surge in cases,” County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said in the release. “So far, while we have seen the proportion of BA.2 increase locally, we have not yet seen an associated increase in severe illness or hospitalizations.”
A total of 53,112 San Luis Obispo County residents have tested positive for coronavirus since March 2020.
Over the past seven days these are the top coronavirus cases by city: 59 in San Luis Obispo, 50 in Paso Robles and 23 in Atascadero.
To see the full city-by-city breakdown, visit the Public Health dashboard at slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/Data.aspx
The agency on March 18 released data showing that unvaccinated people account for about 65% of COVID-19 cases, 76% of hospitalizations and 68% of deaths since June 15.
“As we recognize this relative calm following the winter surge, it is important to be prepared for what may come next,” Borenstein said. “Getting vaccinated, getting tested, and getting treatment if you need it will be key to managing the impact of BA.2 as a community.”
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. The Morro Bay testing site will close permanently on March 31.
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 723 Walnut Drive 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 public health 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 723 Walnut Drive.
For more information on clinic hours, visit slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/Vaccines
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The prevalence of long COVID in San Luis Obispo County is currently unknown, but we want to learn how living with the lingering side effects of COVID-19 may have impacted the lives of impacted community members.
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