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COVID Cases Inch Up as California Rushes to Vaccinate Millions

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Even as California rushes to vaccinate millions of residents, the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests has ticked up this week.

The state began the week with a seven-day positivity rate of 1.7%. That climbed to 2% by Thursday, where it has hovered since.

The rise is not major, but it comes after several months of steadily declining infections.

Matt Willis, Marin County’s public health officer, said he thinks there’s a combination of factors responsible — loosening restrictions, behavior changes and more infectious variants.

The so-called California variant, which could be more infectious, is now responsible for the majority of cases in the state, he said.

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“The counties are all reopening across the state, and as we move from purple into orange there is more opportunity for transmission,” Willis said.

With more restaurants and other businesses open for indoor operations, the risk of exposure increases.

“To me, it all boils down to the fact that we need to continue to do all the things we’ve been doing up to this point to manage this pandemic: facial covering, social distancing, avoiding indoor gatherings,” he said. “As much as people are feeling pandemic fatigue, it’s really just the home stretch here.”

Kevin Stark

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