It’s been a very rough time in the battle against COVID-19 for parts of the Central and South Coasts.
424 new cases were reported Thursday. That includes 305 in Ventura County, which reported a two-day total as a result of closures due to Veteran's Day. Santa Barbara County had 47 additional cases, and San Luis Obispo County 72.
All three counties are at risk of sliding backwards in the state’s reopening rankings. If they move from their current red levels back to purple, it could force new shutdowns of indoor dining at restaurants, indoor gym operations, and indoor religious services.
The new numbers push the region’s total of cases past the 31,000 mark, to 31,075. No new deaths were reported Thursday, leaving the region’s total since the start of the pandemic at 335.
