See where COVID-19 is spreading fastest in California — new cases, deaths, hospitalizations

COVID-19 continues to spread throughout much of California, but the rate of new cases and deaths varies sharply between many counties.

The worst outbreak during the past two weeks was in Imperial County, where cases more than doubled and deaths rose by 60 percent, according to a McClatchy review of state data covering the period between May 19 and June 2. Other counties experiencing relatively high rates of new cases and deaths included Los Angeles, Tulare, Kings, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Much of Northern California, including the entire Sacramento region, saw relatively few new cases and deaths.

CASES

Almost 34,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in California between May 19 and June 2, a growth rate of 40 percent over two weeks. The rate of growth was similar to the rate from the previous two weeks. That may be a positive sign because COVID-19 testing increased during that period.

Gov. Gavin Newsom told counties in May that they would need to show that there were fewer than 25 cases per 100,000 residents before they could speed up reopening. Thirty-two of the state’s 58 counties met that criteria from May 19 through June 2.

DEATHS

COVID-19 killed about 925 people in California from May 19 through June 2, a growth rate of 27 percent over two weeks.

The rate of growth was down from the 42 percent growth rate in deaths in the prior two weeks. Growth in deaths may be a more reliable measure of the disease’s spread than growth in cases, due to differences in COVID-19 testing between counties.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

About 3,100 patients in California hospitals on June 2 had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, similar to the number of hospitalization two weeks prior.

COVID-19 hospitalizations declined about 7 percent over the last four weeks, state data show.

This story and map will be updated weekly. Last update: 6/3

This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 8:48 AM.