California’s coronavirus numbers continue to show signs of improvement.
The percentage of coronavirus tests that came back positive over the past seven days — a closely watched indicator for reopening the economy — has dropped to 3.5%. That’s down from over 11% a month ago.
Hospitalizations for coronavirus patients have dropped 38% over 14 days, and the rate of infection in the state has fallen to 0.65 — meaning each infected person infects fewer than one other person.
“That’s the lowest I’ve seen it,” California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Tomás Aragón said at a meeting of a state vaccine advisory committee on Wednesday. “That’s really good news.”
The falling transmission could help more counties move from California’s purple — or most-restrictive — reopening tier to the slightly-less-restrictive red tier, in which indoor dining at 25% capacity and some additional activities are allowed.
