A month ago, SLO County’s 2-week average for new COVID cases was 39. Here’s where it is now

COVID-19 continues to spread among SLO County residents as more hospitalizations and deaths were reported this week.

The county has added nearly 950 new COVID cases since last Wednesday, according to data from the SLO County Public Health Department.

Hospitalizations have also increased since last week, with 13 people receiving treatment in area hospitals on Wednesday, according to Public Health. No patients are currently in local intensive care units.

On Wednesday, the county reported two more deaths due to the coronavirus, involving people ranging in age from 65-84 and 85 or older. Locally, 509 people have died due to the virus.

Public Health reported 939 new infections over the past seven days ending Wednesday.

Here’s how local COVID cases numbers for the past week break down, day by day:

• Thursday: 260
• Friday: 145
• Saturday: 87
• Sunday: 72
• Monday: 85
• Tuesday: 216
• Wednesday: 74
  
  

In total, 57,484 SLO County residents have tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.

These numbers are an undercount when it comes to the true scope of COVID-19 infections in the county, according to health officials. That’s because Public Health does not track the number of residents that test positive for COVID using at-home tests.

The number of new COVID-19 cases drove up the two-week case average from 97 last week to 115 on Wednesday, Public Health said. A month ago, it was 39, a third of what it is now.

The number of active cases now stands at 737. It’s a small decrease from last Wednesday when 765 COVID cases were recorded in the county, according to Public Health data.

The data shows the number of active cases has nearly doubled in the last month, with 376 active coronavirus cases logged on May 15 compared to 737 on June 15.

Health officials say getting vaccinated and boosted and masking indoors are still the best ways to prevent COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death.

The agency on June 15 released data showing that unvaccinated people account for about 63% of COVID-19 cases, 73% of hospitalizations and 67% of deaths since June 15, 2021.

Over the past seven days these are the top coronavirus cases by city: 274 in San Luis Obispo, 134 in Paso Robles and 113 in Atascadero.

To see the full city-by-city breakdown, visit the Public Health dashboard at www.slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/Data.aspx

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 and Paso Robles.

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 and 800 Pine Street in Paso Robles.

To make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, call 805-781-5500 or the clinic site to schedule an appointment . 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

This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 3:15 PM.