Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that dozens of counties, including several in the North State, have been moved back into the state’s most restrictive purple tier because of a spike in COVID-19 cases statewide.
Newsom cited a nearly 50 percent increase in hospital beds being used by COVID-19 patients over the last two weeks and a nearly 40 percent increase in ICU patients.
He said caution is warranted, even though California’s positivity rate is below the national rate of 9.8 percent.
“It is good news that we are at 4.6 percent positivity, compared to the rest of the nation, but those trend lines are very challenging and that’s why we have to be aggressive and that’s what we are doing today with the announcement of 40 counties moving into a more restrictive tier,” Newsom said.
Newsom was roundly criticized last week when it came to light that he had attended a party with more households than the state guidelines allow. Today he apologized and said he should never have sat down at the table when he realized the numbers.
“I shouldn’t have been there. I should’ve turned back around. So when that happens, you gotta pay the price, but you also own the mistake and you’ll never make it again,” Newsom said. “And you have my word on that. And just know it has not been a practice I’ve indulged in the past. I take it very seriously what we are promoting, and have been doing so.”
The governor said he is considering a statewide curfew if cases continue to rise exponentially.