California intensifies COVID measures; shuts down malls in 30 counties

Reacting to a 21% increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the California over the past week, Gov. Gavin Newsom shut down indoor activity in malls in 30 counties on Monday.

Also temporarily shuttered will be restaurants, fitness centers, movie theaters, bars, and personal care services including hair salons and barbershops. and Newsom said that 80% of the state’s population resided in these counties, which include Los Angeles, Kern, Marin, Monterey, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma.

Four of the counties were newly added to the list.

“We’re moving back into modification mode in these counties. It’s a dimmer switch, not an on and off switch as trend lines and…different conditions manifest themselves,” Newsom said in a news conference.

Positivity rates on COVID-19 tests in the state rose to 7.4% in the past week, up from 6.1% the week before.