There's an alarming spike in the spread of the coronavirus across the state this week.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is imploring Californians of all ages and health conditions to wear masks when you can't practice social distancing, wash your hands and keep your distance. For now, the governor said he is not considering pressing "pause" on the state's reopening, but is threatening to financially punish counties that don't comply with the state's public health orders.
Gov. Newsom seemed more alarmed than he has in weeks at a Wednesday press conference, no longer downplaying a COVID-19 surge or blaming it on a record number of tests. He announced the state has again shattered its single-day positive case record with more than 7,000 cases for the first time.
Hospitalizations are up 29% in the past two weeks and in the past seven days, the rate at which Californians are testing positive has skyrocketed from roughly 4.5% to 5.6%.
In the last 14 days, CA has conducted 1,052,101 tests with a #COVID19 positivity rate of 5.1%.This is an increase that we are tracking very closely.Californians need to remain vigilant and act responsibly.Wear a face covering. Wash your hands. Practice physical distancing.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 24, 2020"It is our behaviors that are leading to these numbers and we are putting people's lives at risk," Gov. Newsom pleaded.
Gov. Newsom specifically spoke to young people, who the he said are selfishly ignoring the rules.
"Everybody needs to be loved and everybody loves," the governor said. "So you know what, everybody cares about somebody and somebody else. If that's the case, demonstrate it. Prove it. Protect others by wearing a face covering. If not just yourself, consider others."
The governor waved a $2.5 billion stick at the counties, threatening to withhold that much in state funding from jurisdictions that don't stick to and enforce the rules.
Watch Gov. Newsom's remarks below.
