The number of confirmed coronavirus cases on the Central and South Coast took a big jump, passing the 1500 mark.
135 new cases were reported Thursday, with 109 in Santa Barbara County. The big spike wasn't random: 100 of the new cases are linked to the federal prison complex in Lompoc.
The county now has 722 cases, with about 300 connected to the prison. The region’s total now tops 1500, with 1564 overall. Ventura County has 631 cases, and San Luis Obispo County 211. There have been 30 deaths in the region.
Some Central and South Coasts will reopen with limited operations Friday. Businesses like florists, bookstores, and clothing stores can reopen with limited curbside pickup service.
