SLO County reports highest daily COVID counts of the entire pandemic, 3 new deaths

Sara Kassabian, Lindsey Holden, Kaytlyn Leslie, Mackenzie Shuman
·5 min read

San Luis Obispo County is seeing more new daily COVID-19 cases — and more active cases — that at any other time in the pandemic, the Public Health Department said Friday, as it reported three new deaths and more hospitalizations.

The high volume of testing across the county in response to the omicron variant has produced spikes in the daily new cases unlike anything seen before, with 779 reported on Wednesday and 726 on Thursday. Those are the two highest new daily case counts since the beginning of the pandemic two years ago.

The previous single-day peak was 611 new cases recorded on Jan. 5, 2021.

The increase in positive test results has caused the number of active cases to surge to 3,573, also the most ever during the pandemic.

The 14-day average of new cases now stands at 342, as of Friday. That number was at 355 on Thursday, the highest of the pandemic.

The three new deaths reported Friday bring the county’s total to 378. The deaths were in 65-84 and 50-64 age groups.

“While we are extremely fortunate that some people have less severe illness with this variant, that is sadly not the case for many otherwise-healthy people who have succumbed to COVID-19. My heart goes out to their loved ones,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health Officer, in a news release.

A total of 51 SLO County residents are now hospitalized with the virus, including six in the intensive care unit.

While the number being treated with inpatient care continues to grow, it’s still below the worst of the delta surge in September, when as many as 67 people were hospitalized at one point and as many as 20 were in the ICU.

Despite the increase, SLO County still has 55% of its ICU beds available.

“Our job now as a community is to weather this surge in a way that allows our local health care system to continue caring not only for patients with COVID-19 but also those with other severe issues like heart attacks and cancer,” Borenstein said.

The omicron variant represents about 90% of coronavirus tests sequenced in San Luis Obispo County, according to the news release. This stat mirrors the state numbers on variants, which show that across California, omicron made up 91.3% of sequenced cases on Jan. 5, the latest available data, according to the county website.

Here’s how local coronavirus case numbers from the past three days break down day by day:

Wednesday: 779 Thursday: 726 Friday: 341

“Now is the time to double-down on precautions, because omicron is finding its way through every gap in protection,” Borenstein said. “My best advice is to avoid gatherings, wear the best mask you can and get vaccinated or boosted if you are eligible.”

New COVID-19 cases by city

Here is where new COVID-19 cases were added in San Luis Obispo County, according to ReadySLO.org:

North County

  • Paso Robles: 238

  • Atascadero State Hospital: 205

  • Atascadero: 117

  • Templeton: 42

  • Shandon: 16

  • Santa Margarita: 14

  • Creston: 6

  • San Miguel: 4

South County

  • Arroyo Grande: 189

  • Nipomo: 105

  • Grover Beach: 95

  • Oceano: 55

  • Pismo Beach: 12

SLO and North Coast

  • San Luis Obispo: 325

  • California Men’s Colony: 88

  • Cal Poly (on campus): 80

  • Los Osos: 86

  • Morro Bay: 60

  • Cayucos: 15

  • Cambria: 6

  • San Simeon: 2

The locations of 34 cases were listed as “other.” A total of 319 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.

  • San Luis Obispo: 7,303

  • Paso Robles: 7,177

  • Atascadero: 3,991

  • Arroyo Grande: 3,186

  • Nipomo: 2,926

  • California Men’s Colony: 2,474

  • Grover Beach: 1,693

  • Templeton: 1,335

  • Oceano: 1,145

  • Los Osos: 1,107

  • Morro Bay: 946

  • Cal Poly (campus residents): 817

  • San Miguel: 813

  • Pismo Beach: 745

  • Atascadero State Hospital: 428

  • Cambria: 367

  • Santa Margarita: 290

  • Shandon: 282

  • Cayucos: 196

  • Creston: 159

  • Avila Beach: 73

  • San Simeon: 56

For a detailed look at local coronavirus cases by age, occupation and more, visit ReadySLO.org.

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 emergencySLO.org/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.

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 RecoverSLO.org/en/when-and-where-can-you-get-vaccinated.aspx.