The large majority of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths reported in San Luis Obispo County continue to be among residents who are not yet fully vaccinated. New data from the County Public Health Department shows that since June 15, 2021, residents who are not fully vaccinated have represented 77% of cases, 86% of hospitalizations and 79% of deaths.
This data comes as SLO County is experiencing a surge in cases and hospitalizations that is straining local hospital capacity. Currently, 67 SLO County residents are hospitalized with COVID-19. This includes 20 in the ICU. This is the highest number of hospitalized individuals and individuals in the ICU ever reported in SLO County. The County reported 592 new cases of COVID-19 and three additional deaths since Friday. There are currently 1,703 active cases in SLO County.
“We are seeing some ‘breakthrough’ cases in which those who are fully vaccinated become infected with the virus and even cases in which a vulnerable fully-vaccinated person has become severely ill⎯but these numbers pale in comparison to the vast majority of cases among those who are not yet vaccinated,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health Officer. “We would not be facing extreme demands on our hospitals if we were looking at only the small number of mostly mild cases among those who have been vaccinated.”
The County previously reported this vaccine status data from January 1, 2021. The change to June 15 provides an updated view of the current situation since the Delta variant has taken hold in California. It reflects the date the State’s economy fully reopened as well as the first date that allresidents age 12 and older could be fully vaccinated.
The Public Health Department now reports case data twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, on the ReadySLO COVID-19 data dashboard.
For updates on COVID-19 in SLO County, visit ReadySLO.org or call the recorded Public Health Information Line at (805) 788-2903. Phone assistance is available at (805) 781-5500 Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.RecoverSLO.org/Vaccine.