County of SLO Declares Public Health Emergency, Local Emergency
Author: Public Health Department
Date: 3/13/2020 1:44 PM
The San Luis Obispo County Health Officer declared a public health emergency today and the County Emergency Services Director also proclaimed a local emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disclaimer: This information may be outdated. For the most recent guidance and case details, visit SLOPublicHealth.org/covid19.
“While we do not yet have a confirmed case of COVID-19 here, this official declaration and proclamation helps us access additional resources to support current and future local COVID-19 response efforts,” County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said. “Our response efforts began over a month ago. It’s only a matter of time before our county sees a case as well, and we are prepared for that eventuality.”
The declaration will also allow County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein to issue specific public health orders to limit the spread of the virus. The County Public Health Department has been actively monitoring returning travelers and identifying others who may be potentially at risk, working closely with local health care providers, facilitating and performing laboratory testing for the virus, and working with local cities, school districts and other organizations to prepare and protect the community. In addition, the Public Health Department has begun increasing the number of tests conducted by its laboratory in San Luis Obispo. The increase in local testing is a direct result of Dr. Borenstein’s direction this week to open testing to anyone referred by a local medical professional to Public Health.
“We have also partially activated our Emergency Operations Center to coordinate our response efforts,” said County Emergency Services Director and CAO Wade Horton. “The health and safety of our community is our number one priority.”
There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in San Luis Obispo County as of today. In total, County Health officials have monitored 13 people for the virus, and as of Friday, nine are currently being monitored and four have been cleared. The disease caused by the virus has sickened more than 120,000 people around the world, over 1,300 in the United States and nearly 200 in California. The disease has also killed over 4,300 worldwide.
Dr. Borenstein asks that “all residents, businesses and local organizations remain calm, stay informed, and heed our precautions.” Visit SLOPublicHealth.org/covid19 for the latest news and information about COVID-19.
See the full declaration of local health emergency and the proclamation of local emergency.
