SLO County sees its largest one-day jump in coronavirus cases with 14 positive tests
San Luis Obispo County added 14 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the local total to 163 people who’ve been tested positive for the disease, according to ReadySLO.org.
That’s the largest single-day jump in confirmed cases of COVID-19 — the illness caused by the new coronavirus — that the county has seen since the first local person tested positive on March 14. The increase was the latest in a flurry of cases totaling 29 over the last three days.
Dr. Penny Borenstein, county Public Health officer, said at a Friday press conference most of the new cases are close contacts of people who have already tested positive for COVID-19.
The county’s Public Health lab conducted 29 new tests between Thursday and Friday, bringing the total to 955 with 54 positive results. The remaining 109 positive tests were conducted at private labs.
Public Health officials are still trying to obtain complete data on the total number of private tests performed for county residents.
SLO County COVID-19 cases by the numbers
Nearly 120 residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 have completely recovered, according to county Public Health officials.
Forty patients are recovering at home. Three patients are in the hospital, with one person receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.
One local COVID-19 patient has died from the virus.
More than half the county’s cases are in the North County, and Paso Robles has the highest concentration with 47.
Atascadero has 28 cases, Templeton has eight cases and San Miguel has seven cases.
Arroyo Grande has 19 cases, Nipomo has 15 cases, San Luis Obispo has 14 cases, Pismo Beach has seven cases, Morro Bay has six cases and other areas have 12 cases.
Most of the people in the county who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 are age 50 or older. Fifty people 50 to 64 years old tested positive, as did 42 people 65 and older.
Sixty-one people who tested positive are 18 to 49 years old, and 10 cases occurred in residents 17 and younger.
When and where to get a COVID-19 test
Symptoms of the virus that causes COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Mild symptoms also include chills, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose and diarrhea.
Older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable.
Health officials urge those who exhibit symptoms to stay home, avoid contact with others and call their healthcare provider or urgent-care clinic before seeking medical care to receive safe arrival instructions, if directed to do so.
County health officials are urging people to get tested if they experience even mild respiratory illness symptoms. However, the Public Health Lab still operates at a capacity of only about 50 tests per day.
Providers that are accepting samples for testing can be found on the county’s website.
Potential patients who are experiencing the listed symptoms and are struggling to get tested can call the Public Health Department at 805-781-5500. However, Public Health officials cannot guarantee anyone a test.
Go to the emergency room only if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
The county has opened the Cal Poly Alternate Care site, which will be staffed by Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.
To volunteer for the medical corps auxiliary, sign up at HealthcareVolunteers.ca.gov and then email the San Luis Obispo Medical Corps coordinator at slomrc@gmail.com.
Visit ReadySLO.org for the latest public health updates and recommendations.
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 1:00 PM.
