California Coronavirus Cases Increase by One-Third Over Last Two Weeks

California announced a new single-day record for confirmed COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, continuing a surge that has seen cases more than double over the last month.

The state reported 11,694 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, significantly more than the previous record of 9,480 on June 29.

"This number should draw some attention," California Governor Gavin Newsom said during a news briefing. "Though I want to caution you... the number includes a backlog of reported numbers that we're still working through with LA county."

Although it is unclear how many of the new cases were part of the backlog, Newsom said that Wednesday's total would be "below 10,000" if the backlogged cases were not included.

The seven-day average of new cases per day is 8,116. The state has tested an average of over 106,000 people for the virus every day over the last week, with a positivity rate of 7.1 percent.

"I'm not pleased with the 7.1 percent positivity rate, that has gone up," said Newsom. "Every decimal point is a point of concern... we have the capacity to move that number down by our individual behavior, by wearing masks, by practicing the hand washing and social distancing that's required of all of us."

"That 7 percent can spike, and quickly," he added. "We're monitoring this closely, and all of us should monitor our own behavior even more closely."

California has reported a total of 289,468 cases, with about a third of all cases coming in the past two weeks. The state has also reported 6,562 deaths caused by the virus.

Hospitalizations have also soared in the state, rising 44 percent over the last two weeks. Despite the grim statistics, Newsom said that the state is prepared to meet a further surge of cases, citing an increased capacity of hospital beds.

Newsom mandated the wearing of masks in public on June 18, insisting that uncovered faces were "putting at risk the real progress we have made in fighting the disease."

However, some residents have refused to wear masks despite the mandate and a continuing rise in cases. A number of law enforcement officials also refused to enforce the order while some leading conservative figures and politicians publicly denounced the restriction.

The chief health officer for Southern California's Orange county resigned her position early last month last month due to backlash she received when she responded to a spike in cases by issuing a mask mandate for the county before Newsom's statewide order, including hate mail and death threats.

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said on Monday that residents growing "tired of having to deal with the virus" had contributed the spike because preventative measures were not being maintained.

"We've had a lot of people disregard the very practices that allowed us to slow the spread," Ferrer told the LA Times. "Our inability to follow the most basic infection control and distancing directives leads to serious illness, and even the death of the people we love."

Newsweek reached out to Newsom's office for comment.