Tag Archives: SLO

Health

SLO County reports 5 more COVID-19 related deaths, dozens of outbreaks

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San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials are reporting 2,134 new cases of COVID-19 since the last report on Friday.

Five more COVID-19 related deaths were also reported, bringing the county’s total to 389 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Those who died ranged in age from 75 to 100.

There are 3,059 known active cases of COVID-19 in the county with 54 people in the hospital. Ten of those patients are in the ICU.

SLO County health officials say the county’s 14-day case average has reached an all-time high of 590, but they add that the latest numbers do not include at-home rapid antigen tests, so the actual number of local cases is likely higher.

More than 11,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported so far this January, with 4,844 new cases in the last week alone. Health officials say that’s more than the previous two months combined.

Health officials say they are responding to approximately 60 active outbreaks of COVID-19 in congregate care, skilled nursing, and corrections facilities.

According to figures from Public Health, between June 15, 2021 and Jan. 24, 2022, San Luis Obispo County residents who are not fully vaccinated made up 66.2% of cases, 78.8% of hospitalizations, and 76.1% of COVID-19 deaths.

Sixty-six percent of eligible SLO County residents are fully vaccinated as of January 25, and 48.9 percent have received a booster shot.

To schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, visit myturn.ca.gov. For information on mobile and pop-up vaccine clinics in San Luis Obispo County, click here.

Free coronavirus testing is available to the public in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, and Morro Bay. Click here to register for an appointment.

Local urgent cares and many pharmacies also offer testing. Calling ahead for availability is encouraged.

SLO County Public Health typically reports COVID-19 case data twice a week – on Tuesdays and Fridays

To learn more about San Luis Obispo County’s coronavirus response, visit slopublichealth.org/COVID19.

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Health

SLO County reports increase in hospitalizations, 824 new COVID-19 cases since Tues.

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San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials are reporting 824 new cases of COVID-19 and an increase in hospitalizations since the last report on Tuesday.

There are 2,274 known active cases of COVID-19 in the county with 38 people in the hospital. Seven of those patients are in the ICU.

On Tuesday, the health department reported 30 hospitalizations.

“We must now work together to get through this surge without a crisis to our health care system,” Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health Officer, said in a press release issued Friday. “Please, do not go to the ER for COVID-19 testing or mild symptoms. However, if you have trouble breathing, persistent pain in your chest or other severe symptoms, please take that seriously and get medical care.”

No new deaths were reported on Friday. San Luis Obispo County has recorded a total of 373 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

The county’s 14-day case average is now up to 228, the highest it’s been since January 2021.

County health officials say the current surge of cases is likely due to holiday gatherings and travel as the highly-contagious Omicron variant was beginning to spread.

Officials say the Omicron variant now represents about 70 percent of recently sequenced cases in the county, surpassing the Delta variant which now makes up about 30 percent of cases.

Health officials say people who have recently traveled, gathered with a group, or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should get tested three to five days after the exposure or travel.

Free coronavirus testing is available to the public in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, and Morro Bay. Click here to register for an appointment.

Local urgent cares and many pharmacies also offer testing. Calling ahead for availability is encouraged.

According to figures from Public Health, from June 15, 2021, to Jan. 5, 2022, San Luis Obispo County residents who are not fully vaccinated made up 71.3% of cases, 81.8% of hospitalizations, and 73.4% of COVID-19 deaths.

A little more than 65% of eligible SLO County residents are vaccinated as of January 3.

To schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, visit myturn.ca.gov. For information on mobile and pop-up vaccine clinics in San Luis Obispo County, click here.

SLO County Public Health typically reports COVID-19 case data twice a week – on Tuesdays and Fridays

To learn more about San Luis Obispo County’s coronavirus response, visit readyslo.org.

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Health

New cases of COVID-19 in SLO County double over previous week

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On Tuesday, San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials reported 253 new cases of COVID-19 over the past seven days. That’s nearly twice the number of new cases that were reported over the previous seven-day period.

From July 14-20, 129 new cases were reported.

Tuesday’s number is also well above the total number of cases that were reported in the county during the entire month of June when just 166 new cases were reported.

So far this month, SLO County has had 482 new cases of COVID-19.

Since the start of the pandemic, the county has recorded a total of 21,970 cases.

Health officials say five people are currently hospitalized, including one patient who is in the ICU. Another 280 people are recovering at home.

San Luis Obispo County has had 265 deaths attributed to the virus. One of those deaths, a resident in their 70s, was reported in the past week.

Officials say there are currently eight outbreaks of COVID-19 in the county, including outbreaks in long-term care facilities and sports teams.

Five additional cases of the Delta variant have also reportedly been identified in SLO County in the past week, but health officials say the actual number of Delta cases is likely much higher because only a small percentage of COVID-19 cases are sequenced to determine their strain.

SLO County Public Health currently has two COVID-19 testing sites that are open to the public. They are located in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo and walk-ins are welcome. You can also make an appointment by clicking here.

Health officials say they are working as quickly as possible to contact all active cases and alert their close contacts, but the recent increase in cases has stretched resources and contact tracers are not able to immediately call every case. They say people who test positive shouldn’t wait to hear from a contact tracer. Instead, they say you should self-isolate for 10 days and notify your close contacts of your diagnosis.

The COVID-19 vaccine is available at County Public Health clinics, local pharmacies, and several community healthcare providers. To schedule an appointment, visit the My Turn website.

County health officials will hold a press conference to address the latest COVID-19 trends on Thursday, July 29, at 12:15 p.m. Scheduled speakers include County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein, pediatrician Dr. Rene Bravo, SLO County Coroner Dr. Joye Carter, and Brent Burchett of the SLO County Farm Bureau. KSBY will livestream that press conference at ksby.com/live and on our mobile and streaming apps.

For more information on the county’s coronavirus response, visit readyslo.org.

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Health

SLO County resident dies from West Nile complications

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A San Luis Obispo County resident has reportedly died from West Nile virus complications.

The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department says the person is believed to have contracted West Nile while visiting an area in the state outside the county.

“We extend our sincere condolences to this patient’s family,” said County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein in a press release. “This loss is a tragic reminder that West Nile Virus is here in California and can cause very serious illness. Please, be sure to protect yourself from mosquito bites and drain any sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed.”

This is the first case and death of the virus in California this year.

Health officials say West Nile is commonly transmitted by mosquitoes to both humans and animals and typically follows a seasonal pattern based on mosquito populations.

“While most people infected with West Nile do not experience any symptoms, about one in five experience flu-like symptoms and a small number of people (less than one percent) develop serious neurologic illness,” according to a press release, which states the risk increases for people over the age of 50 or those with certain medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

Health officials offer the following preventative tips:

  • Apply a repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
  • Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and pants.
  • Be alert at dawn and dusk. Mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus usually bite in the early morning and evening.
  • Check and repair all screens, including screen doors, to keep mosquitoes out.

To eliminate mosquito breeding sites around your home, people are encouraged to remove standing water from drains or containers, roof gutters, and things like bird baths, fountains and pet dishes.

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Health

Delta variant of COVID-19 identified in San Luis Obispo County

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San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials on Tuesday reported that the county’s first case of the COVID-19 Delta variant has been identified.

The variant is said to spread more quickly and easily than earlier strains of the virus.

On June 15, the CDC labeled Delta as a variant of concern, meaning there is evidence that it spreads more easily, causes more severe disease, and leads to increased hospitalizations and deaths.

Health officials say the COVID-19 vaccine is still effective against the variant.

County health officials say they are investigating the recent case to understand how the patient contracted COVID-19 and to take steps to prevent the spread of the variant.

Santa Barbara County Public Health officials previously detected two cases of the Delta variant.

To make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination, visit the state’s My Turn website.

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Health

Downtown San Luis Obispo’s Farmers’ Market announces reopening plans

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The Downtown San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market will return on Thursday, May 6th with fewer vendors and a smaller footprint.

After a year without operation, the Farmers’ Market will open in phases before opening to pre-pandemic levels.

“This is not going to be the farmers’ market that you remember. It’s going to be a scaled version of just fruits and vegetables only, and some essential goods,” said Bettina Swigger, CEO of the organization Downtown SLO.

The market will happen every Thursday but will only comprise of two blocks, instead of the usual five, along Higuera Street, between the cross-sections of Chorro and Osos Streets.

Vendors will also be limited, numbering between 20 and 30 in order to keep the crowds from pre-pandemic levels, which would range from anywhere between 3,000 and 12,000, according to Swigger.

The only vendors allowed in this phase will be certified farmers, sellers who make pre-packaged food, and artisans and makers of home goods as long as they are made in-house and off-site.

Vendors will maintain a six-foot distance between booths and there will be hand-washing stations installed.

Restaurants that serve outside in spaces previously used for street parking, called parklets, will be apart of the market. However, people can still enjoy parklets – Market-goers will not be able to consume food or drinks onsite.

People will be able to enjoy walking around and perusing with their families, as the streets will be closed to traffic from 5 pm until 10 pm on Thursdays.

Until now, the Downtown San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market has been closed because of the pandemic.

Since the changes, vendors have been able to sell at other farmers’ markets across the Central Coast because they were classified differently and were allowed under the California Department of Agriculture’s Guidelines.

Swigger said the Downtown Farmers’ Market often operated more like a street fair, so the city took a conservative approach.

Nearby businesses benefit from the market as well, because guests will shop and dine at local stores at the same time.

“You know besides spending their money right there in those stands on that site, they’re also spending their money in the businesses that are right there so clearly that has been a major impact for the local economy in the downtown,” said Jim Dantona, the President and CEO of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.

To find out more about the market and other events happening downtown, click here.

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