COVID cases have doubled in California, and officials advise indoor masking

California public health officials say the state is experiencing a late-summer Covid-19 wave, with case numbers continuing to rise and some local leaders calling for a return to indoor mask mandates.

The CDC reports infections are “growing” or “likely growing” in 30 states, including California. Officials point to increased gatherings over Labor Day and the return of schools as likely drivers of the uptick.

Sewage testing shows coronavirus levels in the state remain “high,” and positivity rates from lab tests are climbing. For the week ending August 23, 12.07% of tests statewide were positive — roughly double the rate from late July. Los Angeles County recorded 13.44% positivity compared to 8.11% a month earlier, Orange County saw a jump from 9.4% to 18.1%, and San Francisco rose from 7.1% to 8.7%.

Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, infectious disease chief at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said hospitals are not seeing a large spike in severe cases but warned that rising wastewater levels in Los Angeles show the surge is still building. “We will have to see what direction things go over the next one to two weeks to have a better idea,” she noted.