'Wear a mask, slow the spread' ahead of July 4: California PSA

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced California is launching a major Public Service Announcement campaign that encourages everyone to wear a mask in order to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

On Thursday afternoon, the governor said he has used the power of celebrities such as Danny Trejo, Larry David, Snoop Dogg, and Kim Kardashian to help get the word out.

He noted that the countries that have been most effective in reducing the spread of the novel coronavirus enforced universal masking.

In addition, states with mask requirements have seen a slower growth rate, according to Newsom.

Newsom thanked local officials in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange counties for making the decision to close its beaches for Independence Day weekend. The move was made to help prevent overcrowding as the majority of the state has seen a surge of COVID-19 cases.

He lauded "incredible progress" in Orange County cities, including Huntington Beach, who he said has been imposing even tougher coronavirus restrictions than the state mandates.

"This is one of the most social weekends of our lives," he said, noting many cities have already canceled their fireworks shows or are telling the public to stay in their cars to watch them.

Newsom noted the hospitalization rate continues to increase statewide. Within the last 14 days, the rate has increased from 4.6% to 6.3%.

He also reminded businesses that those who openly flout shelter-in-place orders will be dealt with and likely fined.

For instance, Cal-OSHA has sent notices to over 350,000 businesses informing them they must comply with COVID-19 and social distancing rules.

The latest update comes the day after Newsom called for the end of indoor operations in multiple sectors, including bars, restaurants, and movie theaters, in 19 California counties for at least the next three weeks.

Those counties including most of Southern California including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

CDC expands list of high-risk conditions for COVID-19 complications

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made revisions to its list of underlying medical conditions that put people at a higher risk of severe complications from the novel coronavirus.

On Wednesday, Newsom also said the state has created "strike teams" to enforce coronavirus guidelines.

KTVU contributed to this report.