SLO County adds 3 new coronavirus cases — all from Paso Robles
San Luis Obispo County added three new coronavirus cases Thursday, bringing the total number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to 184, according to ReadySLO.org.
On Wednesday, the county confirmed eight inmates from the California Men’s Colony are among San Luis Obispo County’s positive patients.
The county Public Health Department said in a news release Wednesday that it is working closely with CMC and the state to monitor the facility.
The county is still investigating the route of transmission for the latest three cases.
County officials have determined that 59 local coronavirus cases are from community transmission, 73 cases involve person-to-person contact and 49 are travel-related.
SLO County COVID-19 cases by the numbers
Of the total cases, 144 residents who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered, according to county Public Health officials.
Thirty-two patients are recovering at home. Seven patients are currently in the hospital, and two are 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.
All three of the new cases reported Wednesday are patients from Paso Robles, which has the highest concentration with 61 cases.
Atascadero has 31 cases, while Templeton and San Miguel have seven cases each.
Arroyo Grande has 19 cases, Nipomo and San Luis Obispo have 14, Pismo Beach has seven, Morro Bay has six and other areas have 10 cases.
And the California Men’s Colony has eight cases.
Most of the people in the county who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 are age 50 or older. Fifty-six people 50 to 64 years old tested positive, as did 43 people 65 and older.
Seventy-three people who tested positive are 18 to 49 years old, and 12 cases occurred in residents 17 and younger.
Private labs conducted 39 tests from Wednesday to Thursday, totaling 1,647 tests since April 13, according to the county. And the County Public Health Lab has now tested a total of 1,243 residents, with 29 tests conducted from Wednesday to Thursday.
Combined, private and public labs have conducted at least 2,890 tests.
The county’s lab has reported 62 positive results. The remaining 122 positive tests were conducted at private labs.
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 people with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable.
Health officials urge those who exhibit symptoms to stay home, avoid contact with others and call their health care 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.
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 30, 2020 at 1:36 PM.
