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California to obtain more masks, gear as it becomes state with most COVID-19 cases

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As California becomes state with the most coronavirus cases, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said efforts to stop the spread must be redoubled.
On a day when California became the state with the most coronavirus infections in the U. S., Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that officials are redoubling efforts to secure protective gear and are preparing to expand the number of available hospital beds to handle a surge in patients.
With more than 409,000 cumulative COVID-19 cases in the state, California on Wednesday exceeded the number reported in New York by about 700 cases, according to data provided by Johns Hopkins University.
After leading the nation in the number of coronavirus cases, New York has since experienced a decline in infections, deaths and hospitalizations as numbers have climbed in California.
“We are a state the size of 21 states combined, so its not surprising now that as we have begun reopening key sectors of our economy and people continue to mix… that our numbers would start to go up, in total the highest in the nation,” Newsom said, calling it “a sober reminder of why we are taking things as seriously as we are.”
On Wednesday, Newsom said that 12,807 people tested positive the day before, “the highest reported number in our state,” and that 115 Californians infected with the virus died in the last 24 hours.
“It’s just another proof point of how deadly this disease continues to be,” Newsom said.
At a news conference held in a Sacramento warehouse housing personal protective equipment, Newsom said he is extending a contract with Chinese firm BYD to buy 300 million more surgical masks and 120 million additional N95 face masks to protect medical workers and others, while he also seeks bids from companies that can provide protective gear in future months. The so-called bridge contract is worth $315 million.
The governor said the step is necessary because California is sending out 46 million masks per month and has an inventory of 111 million N95 masks.

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