We love visitors. But please stay away from SLO until this coronavirus craziness is over

Dear visitors,

You are more than welcome to vacation in San Luis Obispo County — just not now.

We know the weather is fine and it may be tempting to hang out at the beach for a few days.

But like the rest of California, we are under a stay-at-home order, and our towns have literally shut down.

Many of our parks and campgrounds and trails are closed, too. Even the Oceano Dunes OHV park is closed.

So are our wineries, our shops and major attractions like Hearst Castle.

There are no concerts. Our movie theaters are closed. And while some restaurants remain open for takeout and delivery, you won’t be able to enjoy a leisurely creekside lunch at Novo or jostle for a table at Splash Cafe.

Our beaches remain open, but for limited use and definitely not for socializing.

At Pismo Beach, a popular vacation spot for residents from the San Joaquin Valley, the pier is closed and parking lots and parking meters will be strictly limited to one hour.

Golf courses are open for now, but that could change.

You may have heard about those two swanky new hotels in downtown SLO? They’re both temporarily closed.

Some hotels are open, but they’re primarily serving traveling medical workers and people who may need to self-quarantine away from their families.

Here’s another reason to stay away: We’ve been hit harder by coronavirus than many of our neighboring counties.

As of Saturday, San Luis Obispo County had 67 confirmed cases of COVID-19. That’s more confirmed cases than any county between Los Angeles and San Jose.

It works out to more than 20 cases per 100,000 people. By comparison, Fresno County has just three cases per 100,000.

Those numbers will no doubt change by the time you read this. The new motto of our newsroom is “Time is the enemy of accuracy,” which has never been more true.

Think about it. Just a few short weeks ago, life was normal.

Now, we’re housebound, except for those heroes on the front lines: the doctors and nurses, the grocery clerks and delivery drivers, the first responders, the farmworkers, the home health aides ... Really, the list of essential workers is too long to print, but please know how much you are appreciated.

The rest of us can do our part by staying home.

It’s fine to get outdoor exercise, but it’s better to stick close to home, or at least in your own neighborhood.

The health officer in San Mateo County has issued this advice: “Do not drive except to provide or obtain an essential service. Do not go into other neighborhoods for recreation. This increases the risk of virus spread.”

That makes perfect sense. That rule should apply to the entire state.

Oh, and if you’re thinking about coming here long-term, to ride out the coronavirus storm in a vacation rental or your second home?

Not a good idea. Some jurisdictions, including Los Angeles County, have forbidden residents from traveling to or from a vacation home outside of the city.

That’s another directive the entire state should follow.

Local officials in San Luis Obispo County say they haven’t noticed a large number of folks coming in from out of town to stay in second homes or vacation rentals. But residents of some beach communities like Morro Bay and Cambria say it’s happening in their neighborhoods.

And it’s definitely an issue in other parts of the state, including jurisdictions that may not have the medical resources to take of even their own residents.

Mono County, for example, has just 17 hospital beds and four ventilators — and eight confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to a report in Saturday’s LA Times. (Again, that number may already be outdated.)

The Mono County sheriff isn’t mincing words: “Don’t come here,” she said.

Smaller communities may seem like safe havens right now, but the daily numbers tell the story: The virus is everywhere.

Besides, doesn’t it make sense to stay home, near your own health care providers who know your medical history?

We wish you all the best, but please, plan your vacation to the Central Coast for another time, when you can enjoy all that it has to offer.

We look forward to that day. Until then, stay safe.