Are SLO County COVID cases peaking? Here's what Public Health says

Tribune - 7/27/2022

Jul. 27—Nearly 450 new cases of coronavirus were reported in San Luis Obispo County over the past week, according to county Public Health Department data.

"While we are optimistic that cases may have peaked locally, seven SLO County residents are currently hospitalized for severe COVID-19 and we are sad to report that seven more SLO County residents have died from COVID-19," the county Public Health Department said in a Facebook post.

The coronavirus-related deaths occurred from late June to mid-July and involved people in age groups 50 to 64, 65 to 84 and 85 and older, according to Public Health. Locally, 528 people have died from the coronavirus.

Of the seven people currently hospitalized for severe COVID-19, none are being treated in local intensive care units, according to Public Health.

San Luis Obispo County added 443 new coronavirus cases since July 20, according to data from the county Public Health Department.

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

— Thursday: 72

— Friday: 65

— Saturday: 57

— Sunday: 69

— Monday: 53

— Tuesday: 91

— Wednesday: 36

"The BA.5 strain of COVID-19 now represents more than 70% of recently-sequenced local cases," Public Health said on Facebook.

In total, 60,474 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since March 2020.

The two-week case average dropped to 62 as of Wednesday, compared with the previous week's two-week average of 84.

The number of active cases stood at 473, down from the 533 active cases recorded on July 20.

The number of COVID-19 cases recorded locally do not include positive at-home tests, meaning the recorded numbers are likely a sizable undercount from the true number of positive COVID-19 cases throughout the county.

The agency on Wednesday released data showing that unvaccinated people account for about 62% of COVID-19 cases, 72% of hospitalizations and 65% of deaths since June 15, 2021.

Vaccines remain effective against the BA.5 variant, Public Health said.

The California Department of Public Health released new data that showed, between June 27 and July 3, unvaccinated people were 5.9 times more likely to contract COVID-19, 7.1 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and 9.9 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those that received their booster.

Over the past seven days, these cities had the most coronavirus cases: 80 in San Luis Obispo, 77 in Paso Robles and 45 in Arroyo Grande.

To see the full city-by-city breakdown, visit the Public Health dashboard at www.slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/Data.aspx

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 and Paso Robles.

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., Suite A, in Grover Beach and 800 Pine St. in Paso Robles.

To make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, call 805-781-5500 or the clinic site to schedule an appointment . The county Public Health Department is also administering vaccines and boosters on a walk-in basis at public health clinics in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Grover Beach. To find shots at pharmacies near you, visit Vaccines.gov.

Vaccines are administered at the San Luis Obispo clinic is at 2191 Johnson Ave., the Grover Beach clinic is at 286 South 16th St. and the Paso Robles clinic is at 723 Walnut Dr.

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

This story was originally published July 27, 20225:25 PM.

___

Visit The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) at www.sanluisobispo.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.