COVID-19 testing backlog decreased, more testing on the way, Gov. Newsom announces
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) -- California's backlog of coronavirus tests has been substantially reduced from nearly 60,000 to 13,000, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced during a Saturday press conference in Sacramento.
Despite the improvements, Newsom recognized that more needs to be done in terms of testing.
"I own that, you deserve better and more," he said.
The backlog is the number of tests that still need to be processed in California.
As of Saturday afternoon, California reported 12,026 positive cases of COVID-19 - an increase of 12.4 percent since Friday.
Of those total cases, 2,300 Californians remain hospitalized and 1,008 are in the ICU.
During Saturday's press conference, the governor announced a state partnership with UC Davis and UC San Diego, intended to create more testing sites and increase the state's capacity for testing.
"The approach is a comprehensive one, geographically considered," Newsom said.
RELATED: I-TEAM: California ranks nearly last among U.S. states in coronavirus testing due to backlog
In terms of how many tests need to be deployed in California, the governor said, "the numbers need to multiply exponentially."
In addition to testing, Newsom also announced a new website where users can submit a form if they have personal protective equipment to provide to California.
The site was put together with the help of Salesforce, the governor said.
Despite the state's efforts, Newsom recognized that California is not "out of the woods" just yet.
"I appreciate the attention that California is doing well in some areas," he said.
He said the pandemic remains "serious" and "real."
Newsom also briefly discussed Saturday the probability of NFL games resuming in California.
He said the state does not expect to have NFL games by August.
Newsom said certain restrictions have been lifted in Asia -- but there's since been a "boomerang" of cases.
The governor, at this point, does not want to "over-promise" possible a start date for NFL games.
He says the decision to resume games in California will be based on facts and the state's ability to bend the curve.
Get the latest news, information and videos about the novel coronavirus pandemic here
RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:
- Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US, around the world
- WATCH: ABC7's interactive town hall 'Race and Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation'
- Everything you need to know about the Bay Area's shelter-in-place order
- Stimulus calculator: How much money should you expect from coronavirus relief bill
- What Bay Area tenants need to know about rent payments, eviction amid COVID-19 outbreak
- Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US, around the world
- Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
- Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area/
- Coronavirus and the new normal of living in the San Francisco-Bay Area -- COVID-19 Diaries
- Happy hour goes virtual as people try to be sociable while social distancing during COVID-19 crisis
- Coronavirus Outbreak: Here's why you should practice 'social distancing'
- DRONEVIEW7: What the Bay Area looks like during the coronavirus shelter-in-place
- ABC7's drive around San Francisco shows empty streets, businesses shuttered
- Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US
- List of stores, companies closing due to coronavirus pandemic
- Canceled late fees, free services available amid COVID-19 crisis
- Here's how you can help during COVID-19 pandemic
- How to maintain learning during school closures
- No masks but here are 100+ products that may help protect you against novel coronavirus germs
- Here's a look at some of history's worst pandemics that have killed millions
- Asian community fighting racism, xenophobia, bigotry as world fights COVID-19
