Santa Barbara County reported 69 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the county's total to 613 cases as of May 6.
County Public Health Director Dr. Van Do Reynoso said 65 of those cases are inmates at the federal prison in Lompoc. She said this increase in cases comes after the prison began testing all of the inmates in the low-security unit of the complex this week.
Of the 613 total cases, 172 are federal prison inmates.
Of the remaining 441 community cases, Dr. Do Reynoso said 24 people are hospitalized, including ten patients who are in the ICU. Another 43 people are recovering at home and 355 people are fully recovered.
Santa Barbara County has had nine deaths attributed to COVID-19.
A state-operated coronavirus testing site opened Tuesday at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Dr. Do Reynoso said 116 people were tested and the results are pending.
She said the health department anticipates an increase in cases with new access to testing.
Additional testing sites will be open at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara on Thursday and at the Anderson Recreation Center in Lompoc on Friday.
Appointments are required at all testing sites. To make an appointment, visit https://lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1123.
For more information on the county's COVID-19 response, visit publichealthsbc.org.