Watch: Gavin Newsom makes ‘special announcement,’ provides California updates

Gov. Gavin Newsom provided an update Monday on California wildfires and the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic at a noon press conference.

Newsom also made a “special announcement” during the press conference. You can watch a recording of the livestream below.

Newsom is scheduled to speak as the state battles several large and destructive wildfires throughout Northern and Central California, including the Creek, Glass, August Complex and Zogg fires.

Wildfires so far in 2020 have burned through more than 4 million acres and killed 31 people. Newsom in the last several weeks had more aggressively committed to combating climate change through a series of announcements, including signing an executive order to phase out the sales of gas-powered cars in California by 2035.

Meanwhile, the state’s COVID-19 infection rate has dipped to a 2.6% seven-day positivity rate, with 4,293 new cases announced Sunday, according to the state Department of Public Health. So far, California has recorded 823,729 cases of COVID-19 and 16,120 deaths.

This story was originally published October 5, 2020 at 11:43 AM.