Date: April 6, 2020
Time: 3:00 PM
Contact: Michelle Shoresman, Public Information Officer
(805) 781-5192, mshoresman@co.slo.ca.us
Health Officials Urge Residents: If You Have COVID-19 Symptoms, Get Tested
Local testing capacity has increased.
Get tested and limit spread of disease.
San Luis Obispo—As local COVID-19 testing capacity has increased, the County of San Luis Obispo
Public Health Department urges residents to seek testing if they experience even mild symptoms of
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The number of confirmed cases in SLO County has slowed in recent days. Health officials believe this
is due in part to individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 yet have not been tested.
“We think there is more COVID-19 in our community than the numbers are showing,” said Dr. Penny
Borenstein, San Luis Obispo County Health Officer. “When more people get tested, we will have a
better understanding of where and how this disease is spreading here in SLO County—and that will
help us target efforts to protect the community from further spread.”
Increased testing will provide a more accurate picture of COVID-19 cases in SLO County and the
support needed to reduce its spread. Increased testing will not change the need to maintain physical
distancing to limit the spread of disease.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Less common symptoms
include fatigue, body aches, chills, sore throat, and may include runny nose or diarrhea. Older adults
and individuals with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. For
testing, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call your local urgent
care center. Visit ReadySLO.org for a list of local testing sites. There is no charge for COVID-19 testing.
The Public Health Department no longer requires healthcare providers to screen for other illnesses,
such as the flu, and can now test any resident with symptoms of the virus. Residents should stay home
except to carry out essential business or seek health care and should maintain a distance of at least
six (6) feet from others outside their household. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and have
trouble getting tested, call the Public Health Department at 805-781-5500.
For updates on COVID-19 in SLO County, visit ReadySLO.org or call the recorded Public Health
Information Line at (805) 788-2903. A staffed phone assistance center at (805) 543-2444 is available
seven (7) days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for questions related to COVID-19. To report a business
violating the Shelter at Home order, call (805) 788-2222.