California Breaks Highest Single-Day Coronavirus Record With 6,000 New Cases

California broke its highest single-day coronavirus record Tuesday with a reported 6,000 new cases.

According to data compiled by the San Francisco Chronicle, there were more than 6,000 new confirmed cases reported by county health departments across the state by Monday night, with multiple counties yet to report.

The reported case count is a new high for the state that previously reported a high of 4,515 new daily cases on June 20.

However, the California Department of Public Health told Newsweek in an email that the state reported 5,019 cases for Monday, not 6,000, though it is still a new single-day record. Sonia Angell, the director of the CDPH, said "continued increases in COVID-19 cases are expected and likewise, hospitalizations are starting to increase."

"The safest place for all of us is at home, and when we go out for essential needs or services, we must wear face coverings and keep physical distance from others because that's what helps us protect one another. Our ability to move forward as a state depends upon it," Angell said.

The state reported 4,230 new cases on Monday, bringing the overall totals at the time to 178,054 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus since the start of the pandemic and 5,515 deaths attributed to the virus, according to California's COVID-19 tracker.

The state data indicates there are 4,804 patients currently hospitalized that are either suspected to have COVID-19 or have already tested positive. The number includes 1,412 patients in intensive care units. There are 72,337 hospital beds in the state across 377 hospitals, according to the data, with 38 percent of ICU beds still available.

California health officials stated in a press release in a press release Monday the hospitalization rates "remain stable over the long-term while showing a slight uptick in the 14-day average." They also stated that the positivity rate "remains stable" over the 14-day average at 4.8 percent.

"Every person has a role to play. Protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense," the state health department said, adding that residents should continue to stay home "except for essential needs and activities," follow social distancing, wear cloth face coverings and follow the guidance from health officials.

The health department sent out a tweet Monday stating COVID-19 can spread through droplets that can travel up to 26 feet through the air: "Even if you are not showing symptoms, you could be unknowingly spreading the virus."

Governor Gavin Newsome implemented a mandate on June 18 requiring Californians to wear face masks in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. He said at a press conference Monday that the reason for the new mandate is "wearing face coverings saves lives."

"We are experiencing and have experienced just over the last 14 days some 35.6 percent of all of the cases that have been reported. Just over the last 14 days – 46,000 plus new cases," the governor said.

"Wear your masks. Practice physical distancing. Continue the hygiene that is so foundational in terms of mitigating the spread of this virus. We are not out of the first wave of this virus," Newsom said.

Update (6/23/20 4:15 p.m. EDT): Updated to include new data and a statement released by the California Department of Public Health Tuesday.