COVID-19: Four more cases brings total to 104 in SLO County, recovery rate is 85-percent 

–On Wednesday afternoon, the County of San Luis Obispo reported 124 total confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 104 recoveries. That leaves just 20 active cases of the disease in the county. Two people remain in the ICU. One person has died from the virus. The curve of new infections has remained steady and is “flattening,” according to county health officials.

By Wednesday afternoon, there were at least 26,681 cases and 859 deaths in the State of California and 634,975 cases and 27,940 deaths in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University.

At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors’ new Chair Lynn Compton said there will not be a full opening of the local community or the state until there is a certain level of herd immunity for COVID-19 among the populace. Guidelines for re-opening will come from the state, she said.

Dr. Penny Borenstein, the county health officer, added, “At the end of the day, the only way we go back to complete normal is when there is a vaccine or widespread herd immunity.”

Borenstein reviewed the six steps outlined by the State of California that are required to lift current restrictions:

California’s six indicators for modifying the stay-at-home order

• The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed;
• The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19;
• The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges;
• The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand;
• The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and
• The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

 

“We feel we are in a good position in this county,” Borenstein said regarding the steps.

Borenstein said one case of COVID-19 was reported this week at California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. She said the individual was not in close contact with other people, so health officials are hopeful there is not going to be an outbreak there.

The San Luis Obispo County Health Department is live-streaming regular press conferences on its Facebook page. Click here to see their page, “follow” to be reminded when they go live.

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Distribution of COVID-19 cases in San Luis Obispo County

• Paso Robles reported COVID-19 cases: 31
• Atascadero reported COVID-19 cases: 23
• Arroyo Grande reported COVID-19 cases: 17
• City of San Luis Obispo reported COVID-19 cases: 14
• Morro Bay reported COVID-19 cases: 6
• Templeton reported COVID-19 cases: 7
• Nipomo reported COVID-19 cases: 9
• Pismo Beach reported COVID-19 cases: 5
• Other San Luis Obispo County reported COVID-19 cases: 12

Ages of COVID-19 cases in San Luis Obispo County

• Age 0-17 years old – 6
• Age 18-49 years old – 46
• Age 50 – 64 years  – 36
• Age 65 and older – 36

Cases of COVID-19 by status in San Luis Obispo County

• At home – 16
• Hospitalized – 3 (2 in ICU)
• Recovered – 104
• Deaths – 1

Source of transmission of COVID-19 cases in San Luis Obispo County

• Travel related transmission – 42
• Known person-to-person transmission – 40
• Unknown community-acquired transmission – 34
• Unknown – 4

Number of people tested for COVID-19 in San Luis Obispo County

The county reports conducting 761 COVID-19 tests. An unknown number of residents have been tested by private labs, the county reports. The county detected 48 cases, and 76 cases were detected by private labs. Private labs doing testing include WestPac Labs, Quest Diagnostics, Pacific Diagnostic Laboratories, LabCorp, and VRDL.

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Recent SLO County COVID-19 coronavirus updates

• Profile: Dr. Penny Borenstein shows steady local health leadership in tough times
• Governor outlines critical indicators to consider before modifying Stay-at-Home order
• Local mask making projects distribute hundreds of cloth protective masks
• Insurance commissioner orders insurance companies to refund premiums to drivers, businesses
• COVID-19 antibody testing not currently available in SLO County
• Local woman who came down with COVID-19 shares her experience fighting the coronavirus
• Daniels Wood Land retools, calls employees back to work, makes personal protection equipment
• District attorney warns that the release of inmates on zero bail will increase crime
• Local blood bank to collect first ‘convalescent plasma’ from recovered COVID-19 patient
• Public transportation sets new passenger limits starting April 13
• Virtual COVID-19 screening available on Tenet Health website
• Local testing capacity increased – Get tested and limit spread of disease

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Additional information from the State of California:

Governor announces initiatives to support workers impacted by COVID-19

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced new initiatives to support the millions of California workers who have lost jobs or wages as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the Governor’s direction, the Employment Development Department (EDD) will launch a new call center on Monday that will operate 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Unemployment Insurance Branch will be upstaffed with 1,340 employees, including 740 EDD employees and 600 employees from across state government. The Governor also directs EDD to expedite access to the Work Share program to avert layoffs.

The EDD will also stand up a one-stop shop for individuals applying for unemployment insurance and the new federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program starting April 28. The PUA will provide federally funded benefits distinct from UI program for certain individuals out of work or partially unemployed due to COVID-19. This includes the self-employed, ​individuals who may be employees but who lack sufficient work history and independent contractors. Federal guidelines include gig workers and California’s gig workers will continue to be protected by our strong laws against misclassification in the administration of PUA. PUA benefits will be issued within 24-48 hours – not the traditional 21 days ​for regular UI claims.

“Many Californians are one paycheck away from losing their homes or from being able to put food on their tables, and COVID-19 has only made these challenges worse,” said Governor Newsom. “California is focused on getting relief dollars and unemployment assistance in the hands of those who need it as quickly as possible.”

The Governor also announced an unprecedented $125 million in disaster relief assistance for working Californians. This first in the nation, statewide public-private partnership will provide financial support to undocumented immigrants impacted by COVID-19. California will provide $75 million in disaster relief assistance and philanthropic partners have committed to raising an additional $50 million.

“California is the most diverse state in the nation. Our diversity makes us stronger and more resilient. Every Californian, including our undocumented neighbors and friends, should know that California is here to support them during this crisis. We are all in this together,” said Governor Newsom.

California’s $75 million Disaster Relief Fund will support undocumented Californians impacted by COVID-19 who are ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits and disaster relief, including the CARES Act, due to their immigration status. Approximately 150,000 undocumented adult Californians will receive a one-time cash benefit of $500 per adult with a cap of $1,000 per household to deal with the specific needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals can apply for support beginning next month.

The state’s Disaster Relief Fund will be dispersed through a community-based model of regional nonprofits with expertise and experience serving undocumented communities.

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Governor signs order on division of juvenile justice discharge and reentry process

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order that addresses the release and reentry process at the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, so that eligible youth serving time at DJJ can be discharged safely and expeditiously.

The executive order calls for all discharge and reentry hearings to be held via videoconference to minimize the youth’s and other participants’ exposure to COVID-19. Additionally, notification given to county probation departments, the court in the county of commitment, and the youth’s legal counsel will be shortened from 60 days to 30 days before holding a discharge consideration hearing. The discharge hearing is conducted by the Board of Juvenile Hearings.

The order also allows for reentry consideration hearings—which are held in the court of commitment after approval of discharge consideration hearings—to take place at the DJJ facility where the youth are housed, instead of transferring youth to a county jail to await these hearings.

This new timeframe does not impact victim notification, as they already receive a 30-day notice. Victims and victim representatives will be able to participate in the videoconference hearings.

On March 24, Governor Newsom signed an executive order temporarily halting the intake of youth offenders into DJJ in response to COVID-19 efforts.

A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here.

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What is the cause of COVID-19 transmission?

–Transmission of the COVID-19 virus appears to be caused by close and prolonged contact, Borenstein said. The greater the illness has affected someone, the more likely they are to transmit it to other people, she said. Asymptomatic transmission, if occurring at all, is a minor proportion of infections, she said. Airborne infection appears to be limited to someone infected who coughs or sneezes and vapor droplets may linger for a short period of time. But neither asymptomatic transmission nor airborne transmission appear to be a dominant means of transmission, she said. The virus does tend to transfer well with human contacts, like shaking hands, and linger on hard surfaces, studies have shown.

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How people can protect themselves

Every person has a role to play. Protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense:

• Staying home except for essential activities – “Shelter at home“
• Washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover a cough or sneeze with your sleeve, or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.
• Practicing social distancing.
• Following guidance from public health officials.

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What to do if you think you’re sick

Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

San Luis Obispo County’s urgent communicable disease line is (805) 781-4553.

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• Follow all local COVID-19 coronavirus news updates
• San Luis Obispo County COVID-19 website – readyslo.org