Coronavirus Skyrockets In California
On Thursday, the state reported nearly 5,600 new cases, and the average positive-test rate over seven days was 4.9% — a nearly five-fold increase over last week. Despite the spike, two parents' groups are suing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over a mask mandate in public schools.
AP:
California's Rising COVID-19 Rate Sparks Pleas To Vaccinate
California health officials pleaded with people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as infections and hospitalizations continued a worrying rise and three Bay Area counties urged employers to enforce mask-wearing among those who haven’t had the shots. California on Thursday reported nearly 5,600 new cases and the average positive-test rate over seven days was 4.9% — a nearly five-fold increase over last week. (Dazio and Weber, 7/23)
San Francisco Chronicle:
S.F.'s Coronavirus Case Rate Has Spiked Above California's. What's Going On?
Coronavirus cases rose faster in San Francisco in the past week than in the Bay Area and California as a whole, and the city’s case rate on several days exceeded both the region’s and state’s. It was a rare occurrence for the city, which has had among the lowest virus rates among major U.S. metropolitan areas throughout the pandemic. Experts say that more than a month after the state — and the city — reopened, the super contagious delta variant is spreading rapidly among the unvaccinated. (Echeverria and Allday, 7/22)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. COVID Cases Accelerate Amid Delta Variant Transmission
With coronavirus cases reaching levels in Los Angeles County not seen since the waning days of the winter surge, public health officials said Thursday that even those who have been vaccinated should take precautions, given how widely the virus is now circulating. This surge is predominantly hitting people who have not been vaccinated. But with the highly infectious Delta variant racing through the region, additional measures — like wearing masks inside crowded public places — can further armor everyone against transmission. (Money and Lin II, 7/22)
Newsweek:
20% Of New Los Angeles COVID Cases Are In Vaccinated People As Delta Variant Spikes
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer announced on Thursday that 20 percent of new COVID-19 cases identified in Los Angeles County were in vaccinated individuals. "The Delta variant is a game-changer," Ferrer said. With the Delta variant driving community spread and positive case numbers up in LA County, the percentage of breakthrough cases in fully-vaccinated people has gone up as well. The daily average case rate was 7.1 per 100,000 people on July 15 and shot up to 12.9 on Thursday. (Pedroja, 7/22)
In news about mask mandates in California —
Newsweek:
Gavin Newsom Sued Over School Mask Mandate As COVID Spikes In California
Two parents' groups are suing Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom over a mask mandate in public schools. Their lawsuit comes as the state experiences a spike in new COVID-19 infections. The groups—Let Them Breathe and Reopen California Schools—have filed a lawsuit against Newsom and the state's top health officials. The lawsuit says that the statewide mandate requiring schoolchildren to wear masks regardless of their vaccination status will harm the "mental and physical health" of children, especially after a year of isolation and distance learning. (Villarreal, 7/22)
The Washington Post:
Southern California Cities Rebel Against New Mask Mandate, Hinting At Delta Variant Drama To Come
Los Angeles County’s new mask mandate is infuriating officials in the sprawling region, leading to angry denunciations as some irate local leaders demand resignations and threaten to cut ties and form their own public health departments. “The county cannot handle our current situation,” said Councilman Tony Wu of West Covina, a town of about 110,000 in the eastern part of the county. “We are absolutely not going to enforce nothing about this BS.” (Werner, 7/22)
