State health officials are taking a close look at nine California counties due to increasing reports of COVID-19 cases. Those counties include Sacramento, San Joaquin, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Imperial, Kings, Santa Clara, Fresno, and Tulare. They are all on a state watch list for potentially not doing enough to contain the virus.
The California Department of Public Health says if the number coronavirus cases doesn't stop rising over a two week review period, then officials will recommend re-instituting business closures and stay-at-home orders.
On Tuesday, Sacramento County Department of Health Services Director Dr. Peter Beilenson said his department has seen a drastic increase in the number of COVID positive patients who have been hospitalized since May 27th. Dr. Beilenson noted that at that time there were only eight people who had tested positive for the virus in a hospital, with six reported to be in an intensive care unit. As of Tuesday, there were now have 33 positive cases requiring hospital care and 14 cases severe enough to require ICU treatment.
"These numbers are very concerning, particularly as sectors of the economy continue to reopen and restrictions are relaxed," said Beilenson. He added that contact tracing had determined the increase was due to private gatherings of family and friends in defiance of county and state guidance for preventing the spread of the disease.