SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Kern County is officially on the monitoring list.

In Newsom's press conference he made announcements of how the state of California is responding to COVID-19.

Hospitalizations are up 9% and there is an 11% increase in ICU admissions, though the Governor said the rate of growth is starting to decline.

In preventative measures he announced new employer safety handbooks will be made to help in employer education, which will simplify guidance and share best practices to make safe environments.

The state is also trying to ensure long lasting protections by expanding worker protections. Including COVID-19 paid sick leave, workers' compensation for at risk workers, strategic enforcement of labor laws, and strengthening reporting of outbreaks.