Two more people in Santa Barbara County have died from COVID-19.
The county Public Health Department Tuesday reported the 13th and 14th deaths among people who tested positive for the coronavirus.
One person lived in Lompoc and was in their 70s with underlying health conditions. The other was incarcerated at the federal prison complex in Lompoc and was in their 50s with no underlying health conditions.
“We are saddened by the loss of both of these individuals and express our condolences to their loves and communities,” Dr. Henning Ansorg, the Santa Barbara County public health officer, said in a news release.
In addition to the two deaths, 28 new COVID-19 cases were reported Tuesday by the Public Health Department. The numbers break down to 16 in Santa Maria, eight at the Lompoc federal prison, two in Santa Barbara, and two in various unincorporated areas and the city of Guadalupe.
That brings the county’s total number of cases to 1,697. Of those, 979 are at the Lompoc federal prison.
The county Tuesday reported a total of 1,559 recovered cases. That breaks down to 962 at the Lompoc federal prison and 597 outside the prison.
“As we continue to battle the spread of COVID-19, we ask community members to continue doing their part by wearing facial coverings while in public and continued physical distancing,” Dr. Ansorg said.
The Public Health Department reminds people to:
— Stay home when possible.
— Stay at least 6 feet away from others and wear a facial covering if they’re away from home.
— Wash hands with soap and water regularly.
— Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
— Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
For more information, call the Santa Barbara County Call Center at 833-688-5551. The center is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays except for holidays.
You also can get more information at publichealthsbc.org/status-reports.
Email: dmason@newspress.com
