As many California businesses began reopening on the first day of revised shelter orders Friday, the state topped 64,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 2,600 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
County health officials throughout California reported 2,120 new coronavirus cases on Friday, according to data compiled by this news organization, and 85 people succumbed to COVID-19.
That brings the death toll from the virus in California to 2,627.
Los Angeles County continues to see nearly half of the state’s coronavirus cases and the majority of deaths. On Friday, the county that is home to about a quarter of California’s 39.5 million residents topped 30,000 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic and reported 50 new deaths, for a total of 1,468.
California recorded its highest single-day number of confirmed coronavirus tests on Wednesday, when 2,546 people tested positive for the deadly illness. Experts have cautioned the rising number of positive tests is tied to the state ramping up testing for COVID-19.
Still, as pressure from some businesses and restless residents grows for officials to allow retailers, restaurants and salons to reopen, scores of people continue to die from the virus each day.
Across much of the state, Friday was the beginning of the next phase of California’s shelter order, when certain retail and hospitality businesses that had been shuttered as non-essential several weeks ago, such as florists and clothing stores, could reopen with precautions meant to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
That reopening doesn’t apply in the Bay Area, though, where stricter rules keeping businesses closed are for the most part still in effect — sowing confusion on Friday as retailers grappled with the conflicting health orders.
On Friday, health officials in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa counties reported a total of 135 new coronavirus cases and five deaths.
