On Thursday, after two days of record coronavirus numbers, State Senator Steve Glazer, D-Contra Costa, asked that most counties in California return to a strict order to stay home.
California reported a record number of daily deaths from coronavirus on Thursday. The number increased to 157 people in the last 24 hours. The previous maximum, 149, was observed on July 12. That means the total number of COVID-related deaths in the state has now exceeded 8,000, standing at 8,027.
California also saw 12,040 new massive COVID infections Thursday. That’s just below the record, set Wednesday, of 12,807 new cases. Governor Gavin Newsom said the total was “the highest in the nation.”
“It is clear that we have lost control of the fight against the coronavirus,” said State Senator Glazer during a press conference on Thursday. “And you don’t have to look far to see it in the numbers.”
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“Unfortunately,” Glazer said, the numbers “never really decreased. When we started the reopening process, it was clear that the only place to go was upstairs. And it’s clear that that’s exactly what happened,” Glazer said.
“We have to do this well,” he said, “because that is the only way to get our economy back.”
Glazer posted a series of posts at the top of his Twitter page describing his concerns.
At his press conference, Glazer introduced a multipoint plan that begins by ordering residents to stay home again if their county’s positivity rate exceeds 2 percent. Looking ahead, the daily positivity rate for new tests in Los Angeles County was 8.5 percent on Wednesday. California’s average positivity rate is over 7 percent.
There are 35 counties, including Los Angeles, on the state’s watch list as of Wednesday. They are likely to be the first areas subject to any new orders to stay home. They comprise the vast majority of California’s population.
As a reminder, Governor Gavin Newsom’s mask mandate was ordered on June 18. On July 13, Newsom closed indoor bars and dinners.
