Governor Warns of Uptick in COVID-19 Cases as Weather Cools

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that Californians should not get complacent, noting that COVID-19 in the state are increasing as the weather cools down and the holidays approach.

Newsom reported an uptick in all key indicators, including positivity rates — which have increased nearly a full percentage point over the past week — and ICU bed admissions.

But he struck a measured tone, saying that while California is seeing rising numbers, the state has the capacity to handle the increased caseload. For example, he noted COVID-19 patients make up a small number of the total hospital patients in California, and that the state still has plenty of ventilators and ICU beds available.

The governor warned, however, that several counties may have to dial back reopening plans this week following recent spikes in infections. He didn’t specify which counties.

The increases, Newsom says, are for "obvious reasons."

"People are letting their guard down, they are taking their masks off, they are getting together outside of their household cohorts, they are starting to see businesses reopen and we are starting again to see more people mixing," he said.

As temperatures drop, Newsom added, he expects to see more of that mixing — and potentially, more cases.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly will update the public Tuesday on the pandemic, and may announce which, if any counties, need to roll back their reopening schedule.

— Marisa Lagos (@mlagos)