Coronavirus In California: What To Know Sunday, June 28

CALIFORNIA — Ahead of the weekend and anticipating the celebratory days ahead before the 4th of July, Gov. Gavin Newsom stressed Friday the need for Californians to maintain social distancing and wearing face masks as coronavirus numbers continue to spike.

“As you move into understandably a festive mood… as we celebrate the birth of our nation, do so responsibly," he said during Friday's news conference.

What's more, he stressed that though it's getting warmer outside, don't be fooled that triple digit heat “will annihilate” it.

"This disease does not take a summer vacation," he said.

The positivity rate of COVID-19 cases is still rising, Newsom said, with a 7-day average of 5.7 percent. That's up from a 5.6 percent average two days ago and a 4.6 percent rate measured earlier this month.

Newsom also pointed to certain counties with particularly high rates, like Imperial County, which has had a positivity rate of 23 percent.

He attributed the spike in part to increased testing overall, noting that months ago about 2,500 tests were being administered per day. We are now averaging 88,000 per day, and 77,000 tests were completed Thursday.

"Please, please practice common sense, common decency," he begged the public. "Please wear a face covering, please take this pandemic seriously ... Have a good weekend everybody, stay safe. Wear a mask.”

Hospitalized patients hit all-time high

Also in the last week, California hit an all-time high for the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients, exceeding record levels set in late April, CalMatters reported.

State data showed 3,574 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were hospitalized as of Saturday, part of a recent spike in cases following two weeks of relative stability.

There are various reasons for the increase: the reopening of businesses, new outbreaks in nursing homes, and the state's increased testing for patients who come to hospitals with other ailments. The counties reporting the highest growth in hospitalizations are largely in Southern California, including Riverside, Kern and San Joaquin counties.

Newsom responded to the trend last week by mandating face coverings in all public places or when social distancing can't be maintained, minus a few exceptions.

Despite the spike in numbers, Los Angeles, the epicenter of the state's outbreak, reopened bars, tattoo parlors and salons last Friday — a sign that state health officials are confident the state is prepared for the uptick in new cases with enough intensive care unit beds, ventilators and protective gear for hospital staff.

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There were more than 2,520,900 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States and 125,588 deaths as of Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University. At least 5,899 of those deaths were in California. The U.S. has the most confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in the world.

Who has been diagnosed with coronavirus in California?

Total number of cases (Johns Hopkins University): 210,673 as of Sunday

Total deaths reported (Johns Hopkins University): 5,899 as of Sunday

Case breakdown by age, per the California Department of Health (totals may be outdated):

• Age 0-17: 14,968 cases
• Age 18-49: 109,489 cases
• Age 50-64: 41,870 cases
• Age 65 and older: 29,048 cases
• Unknown/Missing: 196 cases

Gender of confirmed positive cases:

• Female: 96,068 cases
• Male: 98,718 cases
• Unknown: 785 cases

The latest live updates from across California are as follows:

Sunday, 4:42 p.m.: 20 New Coronavirus Deaths As LA County Shuts Down Bars

Los Angeles County reported 20 more deaths from the coronavirus on Sunday, hours after the state ordered the county's bars to close.

Sunday, 4:27 p.m.: Record-High 497 New Coronavirus Cases In San Diego County

Officials reported a single-day record of 497 new coronavirus cases in San Diego County on Sunday as a regional uptick continues.

Sunday, 12:48 p.m.: Newsom Orders Bars To Close In LA County As Coronavirus Rebounds

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered Los Angeles and six other counties to immediately close all bars amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases.

Sunday, 10:25 a.m.: 540 New Coronavirus Cases In Orange County Amid Deadliest Week

Orange County officials reported 540 new coronavirus cases Saturday, a new record that comes at the end of the county's deadliest week.

Sunday, 9:24 a.m.: Hayward Public Library To Offer Curbside Pickup

The Hayward Public Library will begin providing curbside pickup of library materials through a new program, library officials said.

Saturday, 3:41 p.m.: 23 New Coronavirus Deaths In LA County As Positive Tests Spike

Concerned officials reported 2,169 new coronavirus cases in LA County Saturday, continuing an alarming increase over the past seven days.

Saturday, 11:30 a.m.: Muir Woods National Monument To Reopen To Visitors

The U.S. National Park Service will reopen recreational access Monday to Muir Woods National Monument, with new safety rules in place.

Saturday, 9:33 a.m.: San Mateo Fairgrounds Start Drive-In Movies To Make Up Lost Funds

After the cancellation if its annual county fair, the San Mateo County fairgrounds has come up with a creative use for its sprawling space.

Friday, 9:17 p.m.: Coronavirus Surge Triggers Halt To San Francisco Reopenings

Salons, bars, museums, personal care services and zoos won't be allowed to reopen Monday as planned, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said.

Friday, 8:15 p.m.: The Young Largely Account For LA's Coronavirus Spike

While older patients continue drive up the coronavirus hospitalization rate, it's the 18 to 40-year-olds playing a big role in the spread.

Friday, 5:43 p.m.: Fake Mask Exemption Cards Circulate Across SoCal

Cards purporting to exempt people from the state's mandatory mask order are fake, warned Los Angeles County health officials.

Friday, 3:09 p.m.: LA City Leaders Consider Ticketing Mask Scofflaws

A city committee Friday debated options for getting people to wear masks in LA as the rising number of coronavirus cases raises alarms.

Friday, 1:43 p.m.: Dodgers Confirm Multiple COVID-19 Cases Within The Club

Dodgers players are slated to return to Dodger Stadium next week for preseason training, but some members of the club tested positive.

Friday, 1:29 p.m.: Newsom Lauds Oakley, Disney For Doing Their Part Amid Coronavirus

Orange County businesses are doing their part to ease the spread of coronavirus for essential workers and first responders.

Friday, 10:10 a.m. CVS Expands COVID-19 Testing Sites Across LA County
Several new COVID-19 testing locations have opened at CVS in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Thursday: Wilson Creek Winery In Temecula Hit By Coronavirus

The popular family-owned destination has undergone a series of mitigation efforts and plans to do a phased reopening that begins Friday.

Thursday: New Coronavirus Cases See One-Day Drop In Riverside County
The 237 cases reported Thursday represent the lowest daily increase since June 15, when 177 cases were reported.

Thursday: More Funding Available To RivCo Small Businesses Amid Coronavirus
Businesses may apply for the second round of funding starting Monday, June 29, for up to $10,000 in direct support.

Thursday: San Mateo County Reports 35 New Coronavirus Cases, No Deaths
There were 23 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the county as of Thursday, of which 10 were being treated in intensive care units.

Thursday, 5:06 p.m.: Santa Clara County Reports 2 New Coronavirus Deaths, 64 Cases
There were 72 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Santa Clara County as of Thursday, of which 31 were being treated in intensive care units.

Thursday, 4:27 p.m.: Gov. Newsom Plans Mass Prison Release
With coronavirus spreading behind prison walls, the governor wants thousands of inmates released back into California communities.

Thursday, 3:23 p.m.: BART Cuts $200 Million From New Budget

Ridership fell more than 90 percent during the height of coronavirus as sanitation costs rose. The budget is "precariously balanced"

Thursday: CVS Expands Free Coronavirus Testing To San Mateo County

CVS is adding 35 free coronavirus test sites statewide including San Mateo County’s first CVS testing site.

Thursday, 12:08 p.m.: Tesla Fired 2 Workers Who Refused To Return To Work: Report

Both workers had appeared at a news conference where they spoke about post-coronavirus conditions at the plant and their fear of returning to work.

Thursday, 10:04 p.m.: Woman Who Coughed On Baby ID’d As SJ School District Employee
The Oak Grove School District issued a statement Wednesday confirming that the District is cooperating with investigators.

Thursday, 8:56 a.m.: Walmart Pays Out Bonuses To California Workers
This is the third bonus paid to workers who were promised extra compensation for working during coronavirus restrictions.

Wednesday, 3:58 p.m.: Caltrain Says Peninsula Voters Support New Sales Tax

A poll by Caltrain, which is facing steep ridership losses, shows that most Peninsula voters would support a new tax to fund train service.

Wednesday, 3:15 p.m.: Palo Alto To Open Up University Avenue For Outdoor Dining

Expanding on the successful program on California Avenue, the University Avenue closure will start Friday, and could be expanded.

Wednesday, 12:48 p.m.: Peninsula Lawmaker Urges Newsom To Enforce Mask Order With Fines

A San Mateo County Supervisor wrote to Gov. Gavin Newsom this week, urging him to make the statewide mask order enforceable with fines.

Wednesday, 12:45 p.m.: Santa Clara County Monitors ‘Worrisome’ New COVID-19 Cases

Santa Clara County health officials worry that the current uptick in virus cases may be getting out of hand as the economy reopens.

Wednesday, 12:42 p.m.: Santa Clara Superior Court Extends Zero Bail Until September

Santa Clara County officials extended the zero bail requirement, intended to curb the spread of COVID-19 in jails, as cases rise again.

Wednesday, 11:36 a.m.: Front Street In Old Town Temecula Temporarily Closes To Vehicles

The shutdown began Wednesday, between 2nd and 4th streets, as businesses expand outdoors amid coronavirus.

Wednesday, 10:33 a.m.: Santa Monica Reopens Pier, Face Coverings And Distancing Required

The historic Santa Monica Pier is reopening, city officials announced Wednesday.

Wednesday, 8:57 a.m.: LA County Board Looking To Expand Mental Health Services

Venice Family Clinic issued a statement supporting this move by the LA County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

Tuesday, 5:26 p.m.: Infectious Coronavirus Encounters Now Likely In LA

Enough people have COVID-19 that the average Angeleno is likely to encounter potentially infectious people on a typical day, officials say.

Tuesday, 3:55 p.m.: Virtual Tip Jar Created For Cyberbullied Starbucks Barista

Thousands have been raised for a San Diego Starbucks employee who was cyberbullied after refusing to serve a customer without a face mask.

Tuesday, 3:49 p.m.: Riverside County Sees Another New High In Coronavirus Cases

Newly reported infections jumped by 631 on Tuesday. Over the last two weeks, nearly 5,000 new cases have been diagnosed in the county.

Tuesday, 3:12 p.m.: Palm Springs City Hall Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19

City Hall is closed until further notice.

Tuesday, 2:53 p.m.: Driving Tests To Resume At California DMV Offices

After a two-month suspension, behind-the-wheel driving tests will return to all DMV offices statewide—but with new protections in place.

Tuesday, 2:10 p.m.: San Diego County Seeks State Guidance On Reopening Planned Events

The county is seeking guidance on allowing private planned events, wedding receptions, hotel conferences, street fairs and other activities.

Tuesday, 10:55 a.m.: CA Extends Eased Recycling Rules For Businesses

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday extended a new set of rules allowing retailers to pause beverage container recycling, among other things.

Tuesday, 10:31 a.m.: Woman Who Coughed On Baby At South Bay Business Sought

The incident was captured on surveillance video.

Tuesday, 8:50 a.m.: Mindfulness Training For Students: Stability In Stressful Times

"The keys to good mental health for many people - stability, routine, interaction with peers - have all been taken away."

Tuesday, 8:18 a.m.: Golden Gate Bridge Parking Lots Reopen In San Francisco

The parking lots have been closed since coronavirus shelter-in-place restrictions were ordered in March.

Monday, 4:02 p.m.: Another 302 COVID-19 Cases Reported In San Diego County

The numbers are concerning to officials, who had praised San Diego County for avoiding the brunt of the pandemic's ill effects so far.

Monday, 3:42 p.m.: LGBTQ+ Youth Struggling With Mental Health During Quarantine

LGBTQ+ youth report feeling isolated at home with families who don't accept them, The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County said.

Monday, 2:19 p.m.: Bonuses Added To Gift Cards For Local Fremont Businesses

Spend $20, get a $25 gift card. Spend $40, and you'll receive a $55 gift card. Fremont started the program to help businesses struggling to recover from coronavirus.

Monday, 1:21 p.m.: Over 10,500 Positive For Coronavirus, No Deaths In Orange County

Over 350 people remain hospitalized, with 137 in Intensive Care, the most on record during the pandemic, as the county looks to a new week.

Monday, 12:41 p.m.: LA Public Health Director Says She's Gotten Death Threats

Barbara Ferrer, the top health official in LA County, revealed Monday that she's gotten repeated death threats during the COVID-19 crisis.

Monday, 12:11 p.m.: 2 San Diego Cultural Institutions Receive CARES Act Grants

The Balboa Art Conservation Center in San Diego and the San Luis Rey Mission Indian Foundation in Vista are among 317 recipients.

Monday, 11:32 a.m.: LAX Installs Thermal Body Cameras To Scan For Coronavirus

LAX airport has installed thermal cameras to check passengers' body temperatures to screen for COVID-19 exposure, the city announced.

Monday, 10:52 a.m.: LA's Autry, Natural History Museums Get Federal Grants

LA's Autry Museum and Natural History Museum got a combined $454,000 in CARES Act funding Monday as they recover from the crisis.

Monday, 9:35 a.m.: Local Festival Solano Stroll Canceled For 2020

The Solano Stroll is the East Bay's largest annual festival and an important source of income for local businesses.

Monday, 8:50 a.m.: No Fans: PGA Championship In San Francisco

Have you already bought tickets? Here's information on how to get a refund.