California, the most congested US state and the first to implement a statewide lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus, is setting daily records this week for new cases as officials dangle enforcement threats and urge caution to try to curb the spread.
On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the virus is spreading at private gatherings in homes, and more young people are testing positive for the virus, and infections at some prisons are raising concerns.
Newsom also added that counties that do not enforce health orders that aim to stop the virus spread could see their state funding withheld. The fiscal threat comes amid a surge in cases across some states and highlights tensions between public health guidelines including the push to resume life as it was before the outbreak.
“California has a responsibility and obligation legally and otherwise to enforce those laws,” the Governor said, adding that it may utilize “the power of the purse” to do so.
“That will be an exception and we hope we never have to trigger that.”
California officials reported that the state broke a record on Tuesday with an increase of more than 7,000 cases in a day, wiping a record hit a day earlier.
Newsom also said that California’s positivity rate (how many people test positive compared with how many in total are being tested) has also been on the rise in recent days, as well as hospitalizations, which are up nearly 30% in two weeks.
Governor rebuked residents who are hosting private events at their homes, including family gatherings, birthday parties, and children’s play dates.
“Many of us understandably developed a little cabin fever. Some of us, I would argue, developed a little amnesia. Others have just frankly taken down their guard,” Newsom said Wednesday.
“People are mixing and that is increasing the spread of the virus,” he added.
The governor’s words echo reports from some parts of the state where health officials attributed a number of new cases to family gatherings.