California’s COVID-19 positive test rate is jumping. Gavin Newsom blames private gatherings

The percentage of Californians testing positive for the coronavirus is increasing as the state has reopened its economy, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday, calling it a sign that people are letting their guard down and not doing enough to prevent the virus’ spread.

The percentage of people who have tested positive over the past two weeks is about 5.1 percent. The same number over the last 7 days is up to 5.6 percent, he said. On Monday, Newsom had said the two-week positive rate was 4.8 percent.

Part of the increase in total number of known infections is due to increased testing, Newsom said, but he noted that the rate of people testing positive is a more telling metric.

California’s positive test rate is about on par with the United States’ overall rate, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. California is among 21 states with positive test rates above 5 percent, the World Health Organization’s recommended benchmark for reopening, according to Johns Hopkins.

Newsom dismissed concerns that the state had reopened too quickly and said much of the coronavirus’ spread has come from small gatherings of family and friends at private homes.

Newsom blamed birthday parties, children’s play dates and other private gatherings for much of the increase. He warned that younger people who are getting lax about restrictions are spreading the disease to older and more vulnerable people.

“We cannot continue to do what we have done over the past few weeks,” Newsom said. “The reality is people are mixing, and that is increasing the spread of this virus. That shouldn’t surprise anybody... We are putting people’s lives at risk.”

Hospitalization numbers are also increasing, Newsom said. More than 4,000 people are currently hospitalized for the virus, a 29 percent increase over the last 14 days, he said. Those patients represent 8 percent of the state’s overall hospital capacity and 30 percent of its intensive care unit capacity, he said.

The escalating numbers mean people need to “take even more responsibility” to socially distance and slow the spread of the virus as the state’s infection numbers continue to rise, he said.

He urged Californians to wear masks, which is now mandatory in California but difficult to enforce for individual people. Newsom said the state budget deal he and lawmakers announced Monday will allow his administration to withhold funding from counties that don’t comply with COVID-19 rules like the mask requirement.

He also said people need to maintain at least six feet of distance between themselves and people from other households and to wash hands thoroughly and frequently.

This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 1:56 PM.