California Coronavirus Update: Case Total Crosses Grim 300,000 Mark As New Infections And Deaths Near Records For Second Time This Week

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorAfter reporting unusually low numbers of daily COVID-related deaths over the past 72 hours, California announced 197 new coronavirus fatalities on Wednesday. That’s a 20 percent jump from the previous high of 159, recorded last Friday.Governor Gavin Newsom has said the numbers were significantly lower recently because of delays caused by a new federal reporting process.

Samples prepare to get tested for COVID-19. Photo: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorWeeks after California Governor Gavin Newsom identified Imperial County as the state’s hardest-hit region, he announced at his daily news conference that the state’s Central Valley was the new major area of concern.While the 14-day average rate of positive tests statewide is 7.5 percent, that rate in the Central Valley ranges between 10.7 and 17.7 percent.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorWhile California Governor Gavin Newsom did not have a coronavirus news conference on Thursday, there was still plenty of news. The state reported a grim new record: The number of daily deaths from the virus rose to 157.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorTwo days after California Governor Gavin Newsom ok’d it, Los Angeles County is allowing barbershops, hair and nail salons and some related personal care services to reopen under modified rules. Read them here.Services must be provided outdoors.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorGovernor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday reported a record 12,807 new coronavirus cases on Monday. He said this total was “the highest in the nation.” The previous record came on July 7 of 11,694.He said 35 counties in the state — up from 33 — are now on the state’s watchlist.The 7 day positivity rate of tests in California is 7.6 percent, about where it was last week.California now has 413,576 confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in 7,870 deaths.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorAt the hour when California Governor Gavin Newsom normally holds his coronavirus news conference, the state’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mark Ghaly, delivered a presentation on the state’s actions thusfar and the rationale for them.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom said at his Monday press conference that the state was adjusting some of the workplace closure guidelines it issued last week, specifically those around hair salons and barbershops and the “personal care services industry.” The governor said he had wanted to make the changes earlier, but that it “turned out that was more challenging than it may have appeared.” “The good news is,” said Newsom, “we now have new guidelines out on the

Alyssa Milano called for a national shutdown and lambasted President Trump's response to the COVID-19 pandemic amid a surge in cases throughout the United States. The actress and activist took to Twitter earlier this week and posted a series of critical tweets in the wake of California Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing renewed restrictions and shutdowns throughout the state to help combat the virus’ spread.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorThe day after California Governor Gavin Newsom shut down a number of business sectors in the state, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed record new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in a day with 4,244 new cases and 2,103 people currently hospitalized.Of the 2,103 people currently hospitalized, 27% of these people are confirmed cases in the ICU and 19% are confirmed cases on ventilators.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorOn Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom, citing rising coronavirus numbers, ordered indoor operations for restaurants, movie theaters, wineries, zoos, fitness centers, places of worship, indoor protests, tattoo shops, nail and hair salons and indoor malls to close in Southern California. Bars must close all operations.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorThe day after California officials that the number of deaths related to coronavirus in the state had passed 7,000, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that there had been 8,358 new cases reported in the state.“We’re continuing to see hospitalizations rise and we continue to see an increase in the rate of positivity in the state.”“We are moving back into a ‘modification mode’ of our original stay-at-home order,” said Newsom.The governor announced that he is equiring all

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom began his Thursday press conference speaking about the state’s efforts to mitigate wildfires, announcing the addition of 12 Blackhawk helicopters to the state’s fleet as wildfire season begins to peak. He then transitioned to addressing a more immediate conflagration.Newsom announced a record number of daily deaths from COVID-19, with 149 lives lost over the past 24 hours.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorMoments after California Governor Gavin Newsom reported a shockingly large record number of daily coronavirus cases in the state, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer reported 2,496 new cases of COVID-19, just shy of the all-time record, which topped 2,500 on June 22.The day before, on Tuesday, the number of daily new cases was 4,015. That data included a backlog of tests, so it’s hard to call it a record.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorOn Wednesday, President and CEO of the California Hospital Association Carmela Coyle offered a grim update from the medical community. “We’re preparing to surge,” said Coyle.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorOn June 25, California Governor Gavin Newsom reported that 25 percent of the state’s total Coronavirus cases had happened in the past 2 weeks.Newsom said at that point that “We’ve seen 56,000 new cases just in the past 14 days,” and indicated that that was over a quarter of the total 195,000 cases identified at that point. Less than two weeks after the governor made that announcement, things have gotten even worse.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorLast week, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered 19 counties to immediately close all bars and suspend indoor operations at restaurants, movie theaters and card rooms for three weeks. Those counties had been on the state’s watch list at least three days due to elevated COVID-19 levels.Five more counties were added the state’s monitoring list over the weekend.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorOn Thursday at the top of his coronavirus press conference California Governor Gavin Newsom said “masks keep people healthy.” He then went on to detail the announcements, PSAs and other campaigns the state as undertaken to try and get residents to wear their masks.The governor revealed on Thursday that the state had seen 4,056 new positive cases in the past 24 hours. Test positivity rate in California has risen to 6.3 percent over the past two weeks, he said.