SLO County takes steps to protect public health by limiting tourism
County limits camping at Lopez Lake, Santa Margarita Lake, and Oceano Memorial Park to local SLO County residents.
County limits campground to locals only, issues order limiting hotel occupancy
-Ahead of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, the County of San Luis Obispo is taking steps to limit tourism to the region to protect public health.
“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.”
Rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population.
The rate of new cases in neighboring counties is higher than they are in San Luis Obispo County. With the exception of Monterey County, nearby counties have seen much higher positive COVID-19 cases per capita than SLO County. San Luis Obispo County has 85 positive cases per 100,000 residents, which is significantly less than neighboring Kings, Tulare, and Santa Barbara Counties, all of which have positive cases per 100,000 in the triple digits.
During Friday’s briefing, Borenstein said, “Tourism is one of the areas we are most concerned about with respect to spread. This is how the disease got here from places in Asia, this is how it got spread to New York. This is how infectious germs move, from community to community via travel. While we very much enjoy our tourism and we continue to support that industry, we say this is not the time to come.”
The county will limit the use of campgrounds to SLO County 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 County Health Officer Dr. Penny 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.
Hotel occupancy is limited to 50-percent occupancy. 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.
Horton said. “We look forward to when we are once again able to welcome visitors but right now, we are focused on meeting state criteria to gradually open our community. Tourism puts that at risk.”
Horton also announced during Friday’s briefing that the county’s Shelter at Home order expires on May 16, after which SLO County will fall under the state’s Stay at Home order.
- Follow all Paso Robles COVID-19 coronavirus news updates
- San Luis Obispo County COVID-19 website – readyslo.org
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