Watch: California Gov. Gavin Newsom gives coronavirus update

By Sophia Bollag

Updated April 7, 2020 12:56 PM

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks in front of the hospital ship USNS Mercy that arrived into the Port of Los Angeles on Friday, March 27, 2020, to provide relief for Southland hospitals overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic. Also attending the press conference were Robert Fenton, FEMA Regional Administrator for Region 9, far left, Director Mark Ghilarducci, Cal OES, second from left, Mayor Eric Garcetti, second from right, and Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of Health and Human Services, far right. Carolyn Cole Los Angeles Times

California Gov. Gavin Newsom held a coronavirus news conference on Tuesday. You can watch a recording of the news conference by clicking on the video below:

About 143,800 Californians have been tested for coronavirus as of Sunday, according to the California Department of Public Health. More than 14,000 are waiting for results. Over the weekend, Newsom promised to dramatically ramp up testing.

About 2,500 confirmed COVID-19 patients and nearly 3,000 suspected COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, the department says. The state is also working to expand its hospital capacity by 50,000, including by setting up beds in arenas like the former Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.

Overall, 14,336 have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Department of Public Health. As of Sunday, 343 had died.

California’s testing capacity is still limited, meaning those official numbers are almost certainly undercounts.

This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 11:34 AM.

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