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Hospitalizations rise in SLO County as hundreds of new COVID-19 cases are reported daily

Tribune - 1/7/2022

Jan. 7—The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations continues to rise in San Luis Obispo County as the Public Health Department reports hundreds of new cases each day.

A total of 38 SLO County residents are now hospitalized for the virus, including seven in intensive care. The recent surge, however, has not resulted in any new deaths, which still stand at a pandemic total of 373.

ICU capacity remains good with 55% of county beds available.

"We must now work together to get through this surge without a crisis to our health care system," Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Public Health officer, said in a news release 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."

Over the last three days, 824 new coronavirus cases have been reported, lifting the 14-day average to 228, the highest it's been since Jan. 25, 2021.

Here is how the case numbers break down for the past three days:

— Wednesday: 231

— Thursday: 256

— Friday: 337

The number of active cases likewise has ballooned to 2,274, a sevenfold increase from just one month ago.

Daily case counts have been in triple digits for 10 straight days now, totaling 2,845 new infections since Dec. 29.

The county updated its vaccine status data on Wednesday. It now shows that since June 15, 2021, county residents who are not fully vaccinated comprised 71.3% of positive cases, 81.8% of hospitalizations and 73.4% of deaths

Health officials say the omicron variant is now responsible for 70% of recently sequenced cases, with delta accounting for the remaining 30%. They attribute the recent surge to holiday gatherings and travel, combined with the transmissibility of the omicron variant.

"While it appears that fewer people are experiencing severe illness with omicron, many are still getting very sick and even a smaller percentage of severe cases can mean a large number of people who need hospital care or die from this disease," Borenstein said. "Now is the time to use the tools we have to protect yourself and each other: diligent masking, vaccination, avoiding large gatherings, and even postponing smaller get-togethers. This surge will not last forever — for right now, it's a good idea to dial up precautions until spread of the virus in our community slows down."

Public Health advises that those who have recently traveled, gathered with a group or been exposed to someone infected with COVID-19 should get tested 3-5 days after the exposure or travel.

New COVID-19 cases by city

Here is where new COVID-19 cases were added in San Luis Obispo County, according to the county Public Health Department:

North County

Paso Robles: 111

Atascadero: 101

Templeton: 28

San Miguel: 9

Creston: 5

Santa Margarita: 4

Shandon: 1

South County

Arroyo Grande: 70

Nipomo: 65

Grover Beach: 26

Pismo Beach: 20

Oceano: 15

SLO and North Coast

San Luis Obispo: 262

Morro Bay: 38

Los Osos: 36

Cambria: 9

Cal Poly (campus residents) 5

Cayucos: 4

San Simeon: 1

California Men's Colony: 1

The locations of 37 cases were listed as "other." A total of 217 cases remained under investigation.

SLO County coronavirus cases by the numbers

Here are the total number of COVID-19 cases in communities throughout San Luis Obispo County.

Paso Robles: 6,762

San Luis Obispo: 6,634

Atascadero: 3,748

Arroyo Grande: 2,904

Nipomo: 2,759

California Men's Colony: 2,384

Grover Beach: 1,548

Templeton: 1,242

Oceano: 1,064

Los Osos: 990

Morro Bay: 848

San Miguel: 792

Cal Poly (campus residents): 734

Pismo Beach: 708

Cambria: 346

Santa Margarita: 271

Shandon: 255

Atascadero State Hospital: 220

Cayucos: 161

Creston: 151

Avila Beach: 68

San Simeon: 52

For a detailed look at local coronavirus cases by age, occupation and more, visit the county's COVID data portal.

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, Paso Robles and Morro Bay. 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, 209 Surf St. in Morro Bay and 800 Pine St. in Paso Robles.

To make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255. The county Public Health Department is also administering vaccines and boosters on a walk-in basis at clinics in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Grover Beach. To find shots at pharmacies near you, visit Vaccines.gov.

The clinics are open Monday and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch), and Saturdays for vaccines only from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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 800 Pine St.

For more information, visit slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/Vaccines

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