With social distance, California’s virus forecast brightens

California’s top public health official said for first time Friday state’s coronavirus peak spread might t be as devastating as forecast, and Gov. Gavin Newsom said plans are being made for how to reopen state.

But with Easter Sunday and sunny wear on horizon, Newsom implored people to stay away from ors to t undo significant progress under his stay-at-home order. Across California, local government officials closed streets, parks and or public s to deter people from garing.

Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California Health and Human Services ncy, said models state officials have created to track virus had been showing a peak by middle of next month but have been changing as people limited ir movement.

“Our peak may t end up being as high as we actually planned around and expected,” Ghaly said. “ difference between what we are seeing today in our hospitals may t be that much different than where we are going to peak in many weeks to come.”

California has more than 20,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 552 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, figures far lower than New York, where infections have been most prevalent and deadly.

But key figure for California officials is number of hospitalizations, especially those people in intensive care, which is an indicator of how many hospital beds, staff and medical equipment state needs.

On Thursday, ICU hospitalizations rose 1.1% after falling for first time on Wednesday. Overall, 1,145 people were in intensive care statewide, leaving ample open for new patients.

“When we are in single digits, low single digits, that’s a very good day,” Newsom said.

California was one of first states to order residents to stay at home to contain spread of virus, forcing schools and nessential businesses to close and residents to stay inside for more than a month.

Newsom offered hope Friday as he said his administration was preparing “detailed strategies” about best way to get state back up and running

“neless, that will be fundamentally determined on basis of your individual behavior. one can impact this more than you,” he said. “Your decision will determine what state and federal government do in this respect.”

(Im Credit: AP)