15 New COVID-19 Cases Reported

By edhat staff

Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) reported an additional 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county during a press conference on Friday.

Five of the new cases are at the Federal Prison Complex in Lompoc. The total number of confirmed cases is 1402 and 506 have fully recovered.

There are 83 active cases in the community and 797 active cases at the Federal Prison in Lompoc. Four hundred-seven community members and 99 persons incarcerated at the Federal Prison in Lompoc have fully recovered and five cases are pending recovery information. Eleven deaths have been reported. Click here for more information on each case.

The community testing sites have now been active for two weeks tested 1,768 residents. Of those, less than 1% were positive for COVID-19 with the majority positives being asymptomatic with no underlying health condition., said PHD Director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso.

PHD is also focusing on protecting the vulnerable populations within skilled nursing facilities and is requiring each facility to submit a mitigation plan.

Additionally, PHD is able to provide housing, food, and other services within their isolation quarters at no cost to anyone who tests positive and is unable to safely quarantine. PHD is housing an average of five people a week, confirmed Dr. Do-Reynoso.

Cottage Health Numbers

Below is the data provided by Cottage Health as of Friday. As a reminder, this data is included in the overall numbers presented above and Cottage Health is just one three hospital systems operating within the county.

Cottage Health is caring for a total of 241 patients across all campuses.

• 181 are acute care patients; 192 acute care beds remain available.  
• In surge planning, capacity is identified for adding 270 acute care beds.
• Of the 181 acute care patients, 13 patients are on ventilators. [64 ventilators remain available (adult, pediatric and neonatal ventilators)]
• Of the 181 acute care patients, 5 are in isolation with COVID-19 symptoms;  4 are confirmed COVID-19 positive.
• Of 5 patients in isolation, 3 patients are in critical care.

From May 4-10:

• 1,504 COVID-19 laboratory tests were ordered and collected by Cottage Health. 
• Results: 25 positive, 1,452 negative, 27 pending. 
• Results take up to 4 days.

SLO and Ventura Counties

As of Friday, Ventura County is reporting 748 confirmed cases. Of those, 25 are hospitalized with 14 in the ICU, and there have been 25 deaths.

San Luis Obispo (SLO) is reporting 240 confirmed cases. Of those, 191 have recovered, 46 are quarantined at home, 2 are hospitalized in the ICU, and there has been 1 death. 

Additionally, SLO is taking steps to limit tourism ahead of Memorial Day weekend as the COVID-19 rates in their neighboring counties are much higher. 

“Leisure travel should not take place during a pandemic. Increases in new COVID-19 infections further delays our ability to adapt and reopen together under the State’s Resilience Roadmap,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health Officer. “We are taking preventative measures as a starting point to protect public health as we begin a gradual reopening all across the state.”

SLO County will limit the use of campgrounds to residents only at County-operated campgrounds at Lopez Lake, Santa Margarita Lake, and Oceano Memorial Park beginning Monday, May 18. In addition, County Emergency Services Director Wade Horton and Dr. Borenstein announced an Emergency Order limiting hotel and short-term lodging occupancy rates to no more than 50 percent only for essential travel to limit the spread of COVID-19. The order reinforces State guidance.

The Emergency Order takes effect at midnight on Sunday, May 17, 2020. It will be reviewed every 14 days to evaluate the need to continue the order.