Six new COVID-19 related deaths were reported on the Central and South Coasts Thursday, as the overall total for the region since the start of the pandemic closes in on the 1700 mark.
Ventura County had five additional deaths, for 997 in the last year. Santa Barbara County added one, moving its total to 444. And, San Luis Obispo County has had 256 deaths.
The new daily case count in the Tri-Counties was the lowest in weeks, with 75 reported Thursday. Ventura County had 30, Santa Barbara County 24 and San Luis Obispo County 21.
Ventura County is hoping its lower numbers will help it advance from the state’s Orange reopening tier to Yellow, which expands permitted capacity at places like restaurants. Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are a step behind, hoping to move from Red to Orange.