The number of counties receiving technical assistance from the state due to increased coronavirus concern is down to 11 from 13 last week, Newsom said.
Los Angeles County remains on the watchlist thanks to the county's case rate per 100,000 residents, California Health And Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said. L.A. County has 171.9 positive cases per 100,000 residents — the benchmark for getting off the list is below 25 per 100,000. Riverside and San Bernardino counties have been added to the list after previously not being on the list. Ghaly described L.A. County's case rate as "very high." He said that the state plans to share this list with the public every Monday.
Newsom defended the state's decision to continue reopening, citing factors including 5.7 million residents having filed for unemployment, the inability to get preventative care, unemployment rates being at the highest rate since the Great Depression, and social health factors (such as poverty) needing to be considered. Newsom stressed that it's up to individuals whether the state needs to "toggle back" on stay-at-home orders. But, he said, being more thoughtful and following state guidelines can keep that from happening. He asked people to report restaurants that aren't following state requirements. As far as enforcement, Newsom said the state is relying on local governments for enforcement.
Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest on COVID-19 with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. Do you have questions? Call 866-893-5722.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here
Guest:
Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center; he tweets