pandemic

Santa Barbara County health officials are reporting a significant shift in pandemic numbers, seeing positive infection rates they haven’t seen since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

The San Luis Obispo County Food Bank honored Hunger Awareness Day June 4 by collecting donations across the county to support those in need.

This year is the 15th annual event held every year on the first Friday of June with donation booths at 12 different locations.

Branna Still is the development director at the SLO Food Bank. She said one in six people in San Luis Obispo County were experiencing food insecurity prior to the pandemic.

The City of San Luis Obispo is planning for the reopening of its facilities in the coming months.

City Manager Derek Johnson outlined a way forward for the city at the May 18 council meeting.

He said the city expects to reopen in alignment with future guidelines from the state.

“Really, we’ll be looking forward to the details that come out from the governor,” Johnson said. “He’s made some statements but the details are unknown.”

The COVID-19 vaccination site at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo administers around 1,000 doses every day to county residents.

San Luis Obispo County Public Health announced May 5 it is now offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations without an appointment at the vaccination clinics in Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande.

In a 3-2 vote, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors decided May 4 to move forward with using polling places instead of voter service centers for future elections in the county. That vote goes against the preferences expressed by respondents in a recent countywide voter survey.

Beginning May 2, COVID-19 testing will be available at the San Luis Obispo Airport (SBP).

After more than a year of closure, Point San Luis Lighthouse will reopen its doors to the public May 1.

The lighthouse has been closed to group tours since the initial statewide pandemic shutdown in March 2020.

The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department is running a campaign to increase awareness about COVID-19 vaccines in the community.

The Santa Maria Public Library is giving out free Spring Gardening Kits from April 12 - 17.

Goleta residents could see their rate fees for garbage collection increase by 4% as soon as this summer.

Three Central Coast-based health centers are expecting to receive more than $11 million in federal funding this month.

The California Department of Public Health released new guidelines for outdoor seated live events and performances that went into effect April 1.

San Luis Obispo County’s Farm Worker Outreach Taskforce is increasing efforts to vaccinate local agricultural workers.

UC Santa Barbara issued travel guidelines during spring break and testing requirements before students return to campus.

Digital Marketing is one way businesses can stay in touch with customers during uncertain times.

SLO Partners, a local nonprofit that supports businesses and local residents by aligning workforce needs with training opportunities, is now expanding their Digital Marketing Bootcamp on the Central Coast.

On March 5, the State of California announced outdoor concerts and events can resume with modifications and safety precautions.

About 40,000 more people in San Luis Obispo County can sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine now that eligibility has extended to new categories.

The international non-profit organization Direct Relief, based in Santa Barbara, provides humanitarian support free-of-charge to people around the world. Over the past year, the Central Coast has also benefited from their support.

Cal Poly is now using in-house COVID-19 testing methods, and has transitioned away from third-party, Avellino Labs, which administered nasal swab testing.

The Cal Poly Theatre Department is exploring a new type of storytelling that’s meant for this moment in time. The experimental production called Shelter includes scenes students created from their homes.

The Galaxy Theatres and Colony square have been the heart of the Atascadero downtown area for many years.

A new proposal would allow California restaurants to permanently offer to-go cocktails. 

Since March of last year, about 19,000 people in San Luis Obispo County have tested positive for the coronavirus and around 200 people locally have died due to the pandemic.

On March 14th, 2020, the county reported its first confirmed case of the coronavirus. The next day, south county resident Oralis Cornelius and her husband became the second and third confirmed cases.

After several months of being under the most restrictive pandemic-related closures, San Luis Obispo County health officials are optimistic that further reopening could be just days away.

“We remain firmly in the purple tier; however, we are making progress,” said Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein, based on the state’s framework and the county's current metrics.