Santa Barbara County is reporting the death of three more people who tested positive for COVID-19.
Health officials say the patients lived in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and the unincorporated area of Mission Canyon, Lompoc and the communities of Mission Hills and Vandenberg Village. Two of the people were over the age of 70 and one was between 50-69 years old. Officials say one death was associated with an outbreak at a congregate facility.
Santa Barbara County has had 160 deaths attributed to COVID-19.
The county also added 396 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the county's total to 17,391 confirmed cases as of December 31.
The Public Health Department reports that 135 people are currently hospitalized, including 34 patients who are in the ICU. Health officials say 15,775 people have recovered.
According to the State of California's online COVID-19 dashboard, there are currently 18 ICU beds available in Santa Barbara County.
Breakdown of cases by location:
- Santa Maria - 6,452
- Santa Barbara - 2,760
- Lompoc - 1,831
- Lompoc federal prison - 1,039
- Orcutt - 867
- Goleta - 766
- Guadalupe and North County unincorporated areas (Sisquoc, Casmalia, Garey, Cuyama, New Cuyama) - 708
- Isla Vista - 663
- Unincorporated Goleta Valley and Gaviota - 543
- Carpinteria and South County unincorporated areas (Montecito, Summerland) - 511
- Santa Ynez Valley (Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Ballard) - 426
An additional 825 cases are listed as "pending" location.
Three free community coronavirus testing sites are open in Santa Maria, Buellton, and Goleta.
Rapid testing is available on Thursdays in Lompoc.
Appointments are required at all locations. Click here for information on how to make an appointment.
For more information on the county's COVID-19 response, visit publichealthsbc.org.