A COVID-19 outbreak is affecting Atascadero State Hospital (ASH).
As of Monday, the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department reported confirmed cases among 14 patients at the Atascadero facility and another nine among staff members in the most recent outbreak.
“Our focus is the health and safety of patients and staff as the State works to contain the outbreak,” said County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein in a press release. “Throughout this pandemic, the State hospital has been doing everything it can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at that facility. Our local public health team continues to support their efforts in every way we can.”
Health officials say ASH is following state protocols and isolating and quarantining patients who have tested positive or are experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms.
A “robust” testing program is also reportedly in place for both patients and staff.
When asked about the outbreak Monday, the Department of State Hospitals told KSBY News:
“DSH continues to plan, prepare and respond at Atascadero State Hospital and other state hospitals to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, following guidance from the California Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other state and local partners.
When a positive employee or patient is identified, the hospitals are performing widespread testing for both patients and employees. DSH is also performing ongoing surveillance testing for employees working in its skilled nursing facilities, gero-psychiatric units, and medically fragile units within its hospitals.”
San Luis Obispo County remains in the red COVID-19 tier and has recorded more than 4,700 positive cases since the start of the pandemic.