California Governor Gavin Newsom has come under fire.
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Criticism said he relaxed the measures too early.
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The pandemic is coming to a head in the sunny state: California has now also overtaken New York with most cases in the country.
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Newsom justifies itself: California is as big as 21 states combined. “It is not surprising that we have now replaced New York at the top.”
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Long lines of cars at Corona test sites, full intensive care units and a lockdown: In California, the corona pandemic is getting worse and worse! On Wednesday, the sunny state on the US west coast reported a new record: 12,807 new infections in just one day – more than ever before.
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“On Sunday we recorded 9 deaths, today we mourn 115 lives,” said Governor Gavin Newsom (52) at a press conference in Sacramento on Wednesday. This number serves as another reminder of the impact this virus is having on the population. “If I really still have to remind someone,” adds Newsom with a serious expression.
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What particularly annoys and worries him at the same time: His state not only set a new Corona record on Wednesday, but also overtook New York in a national comparison. California now has 417,000 cases to complain about, while the former American epicenter of the pandemic has just over 400,000.
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The situation in Los Angeles is alarming
The city of Los Angeles is particularly badly affected. More than a third of the cases go back to this district. The number of new infections has more than doubled in the past 30 days, says Los Angeles District corona doctor Barbara Ferrer on Wednesday.
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“This week could be a turning point,” she warns. “Covid-19 is well on the way to claiming more lives than any other disease in the Los Angeles District – apart from coronary artery disease.” Ferrer backs up her statement with a comparison to last year’s flu season. “In the first six months of 2020, the novel coronavirus killed twice as many people in the region as the flu in eight months of 2019.”
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The intensive care units are full and there are fewer and fewer free beds. At the moment there are still enough places, says Christina Ghaly, health director of Los Angeles. But: “If the numbers continue to rise, we will need more beds in the intensive care unit.” She sees the biggest problem with health workers, who have been working overtime for months. “An additional bed in the intensive care unit entails additional personnel costs,” she explains.
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Governor Newsom in criticism
California reacted to the worsening situation last week. Governor Gavin Newsom turned the clock and put his state two months back in time – into total lockdown. Bars and cinemas had to close again. In Los Angeles and 29 other counties, churches, gyms and shopping centers also had to shut down. Only restaurants are currently allowed to remain open. But only if you can entertain your guests in an outdoor area.
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It is surprising that California of all places has now become the corona epicenter of the country. At the beginning of the pandemic, the state was considered a model student and had comparatively low case numbers. Governor Newsom reacted early and decided on a nationwide lockdown in mid-March, which, however, under great pressure, he relaxed again in May and June. Too fast, as some experts are now denouncing.
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Newsom, which has come under fire, justified itself on Wednesday. California is as big as 21 states combined, he said. “It is not surprising that we have now replaced New York at the top.”