"And I want to jump in and give you the latest here in our state. As you can see, our case numbers have been trending up as well. The seven-day average 5,889, number of tested positive for COVID-19. Yesterday the number came in over seven-thousand, 7,212. That number was familiar four to six weeks ago. But since the early part of October, where we were able to get those numbers down below 3,000, we haven't seen an average of seven days above 5,800 in quite some time."
"I am concerned, truthfully, that we may get over exuberant because now we believe we have a safe and effective vaccine that is available and people may go back to their original form. That would be a terrible mistake. It is absolutely incumbent upon us to recognize two things. A vaccine is on the way. That's good news. But the availability to you and me and others outside our first responders, outside our health care professionals is many, many months off. And let's just look forward to the reality of a second wave that is already taking shape all across the United States of America, where you're seeing record number of COVID transmissions, increase in ICUs and hospitalizations all across this country. Wear a mask. Continue to physically distance, socially distance. Do not take your guard down."
California Governor Gavin Newsom says the state is seeing a "trending up" in coronavirus cases, while not at the stunning rate seen in some states that has led to a record number of daily cases reported nationwide.
The number of new cases over the last 24 hours in California was at 7,212, Newsom said during a briefing Monday.
California has seen coronavirus cases inch up recently, though the infection rate in the nation’s most populous state remains lower than the country as a whole.
State health officials expect to release guidance in the coming weeks ahead of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Officials are concerned cases could rise as families and friends mix more to celebrate and the weather turns colder, and that both could occur as flu season begins.
Counties including Stanislaus and San Diego said virus cases had risen to levels consistent with widespread transmission under the state's reopening framework. If cases remain above state-mandated thresholds another week, the counties could move to the most restrictive purple category and some businesses would need to close.
In San Diego County, the second most-populous in California, county supervisor Greg Cox said people were being less diligent about wearing masks and keeping distant from others as time wore on.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
