Santa Barbara County is reporting the deaths of three additional people who tested positive for COVID-19.
Health officials say two of the people were over the age of 70 and lived at congregate living facilities in the unincorporated area of southern Santa Barbara County.
The third patient was between the ages of 50 and 69 and lived in Santa Maria.
All three reportedly had underlying health conditions.
The deaths occurred during the month of July.
After a data error discovered last week resulted in a large number of COVID-19 related deaths being unreported, the county is now reporting those deaths based on death certificates, which health officials say may result in reporting delays.
Santa Barbara County also reported 60 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the county's total to 6,586 confirmed cases as of August 5.
Because of an issue the State of California is having processing incoming reports, Public Health says these numbers are likely to be an underestimate of the true number of local cases.
According to the health department, 82 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County, including 25 patients who are in the ICU.
Health officials say 6,295 people have recovered, including 1,016 inmates at the federal prison in Lompoc.
Health officials say 81,312 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the county so far. According to the Public Health Department's metrics website, about ten percent of tests have been positive over the past seven days.
Three free coronavirus testing sites are open to the community in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, and Buellton.
Appointments are required at all locations. Visit lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1123 to make an appointment.
Breakdown of cases by location:
- Santa Maria - 2,960
- Lompoc federal prison - 1,019
- Santa Barbara - 866
- Lompoc - 486
- Guadalupe and North County unincorporated areas (Sisquoc, Casmalia, Garey, Cuyama, New Cuyama) - 266
- Orcutt - 210
- Carpinteria and South County unincorporated areas (Montecito, Summerland) - 153
- Goleta - 151
- Unincorporated Goleta Valley and Gaviota - 114
- Santa Ynez Valley (Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Ballard) - 74
- Isla Vista - 56
The locations of an additional 231 cases are listed as "pending."
For more information on the county's COVID-19 response, visit publichealthsbc.org.