Coronavirus: Newsom says state weighing enforcement measures to slow disease’s spread

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state plans to issue new measures as early as Wednesday that could require local jurisdictions to step up enforcement of a mandate requiring people to wear face coverings while in public or high-risk settings.

During his Tuesday press briefing, Newsom said he’ll announce stricter enforcement measures for health rules and “use that dimmer switch we’ve referred to and begin to toggle back on our stay-at-home order and tighten things up.”

“We’ll be doing more to focus on enforcement in this state,” Newsom said. “Enforcement comes in many different shapes. Primarily local enforcement.”

Newsom said the state has financial resources to step up enforcement in counties or cities where local officials choose not to comply with health rules. The governor twice referenced the need for Californians to follow the statewide order to wear face coverings issued June 18 when discussing new guidance expected to be released ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend.

“We have conditioned $2.5 billion in our state budget on applying the spirit and the letter of the law as it relates to health directives at the county level,” Newsom said. “If local officials are unwilling to enforce and are being dismissive, we will condition the distribution of those dollars. Again, $2.5 billion.”

GOP, with one notable exception, now embraces mask-wearing

Newsom indicated it’s no coincidence the state is stepping up its plans to enforce regulations ahead of the July 4 weekend as state officials are particularly concerned about the spread and transmission of COVID-19 at family gatherings.

The governor said people have a tendency to “... (Read more)

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