Coronavirus: California reports record number of new COVID-19 cases
During a briefing on Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state recorded 12,807 positive cases after testing 127,000 people on Tuesday.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- California reached two grim milestones on Wednesday by reporting its highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day and surpassing New York state as having the most cases of COVID-19 in the nation.
During a briefing on Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state recorded 12,807 positive cases after testing 127,000 people on Tuesday.
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The state's seven-day average jumped up from about 8,300 to 9,420 cases, Newsom said, while California's 14-day positivity rate "remained steady" at 7.4%. One-hundred and fifteen people died from the virus on Tuesday.
Newsom said the report wasn't a surprise considering the number of people continuing to mix with people outside of their households. He added that the state's mask mandate and restrictions to business sectors are how officials will continue to respond to spikes in transmissions.
As of Wednesday, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Merced and Madera counties remain on the state's monitoring list with 30 other counties. The governor added the recent restrictions are aimed to buy time for hospitals to handle surges, but they're working with each of the counties to try to bring kids back to school campuses.
WATCH LIST: Counties where COVID-19 is getting worse
Newsom said the state is also working to procure millions more pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers and business sectors. The state goes through about 46 million masks per month, and the governor said a steady supply is needed to meet that rate.
The governor added that the state is hoping to bring more manufacturers in California onboard to produce PPE to help diversify the supply chain and to create more jobs.
Friday, the governor said he'll discuss efforts the state is taking to help essential workers, not in the healthcare industry.
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