The U.S. death toll from the virus has accelerated in recent weeks to 2,627 per day on a seven-day average, according to a Reuters tally.

“The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the start of this pandemic.”

“I rise this morning in defense for Governor Gavin Newsom, who recently defied his own idiotic COVID edicts.”

“Not just here in California, but all across the country.”

Newsom said he was “grateful for (Trump’s) quick response.”

Newsom did not immediately comment.

Environmental groups praised the governor’s action on clean vehicles, but automakers were skeptical.

Newsom declared a state of emergency in five counties.

“We are not naive by any stretch about how deadly this moment is and why it is essential … that you heed evacuation orders.”

The last time California experienced dry lightning storms of such devastating proportions was in 2008.

The last time the ISO told utilities to impose rotating outages before this weekend was in 2001.

Newsom revealed the pitches are coming in but his focus is elsewhere, at the moment.

“This virus is not going away.”

Total cases in the most populous U.S. state rose by 12,112 on Wednesday.

Newsom has not yet indicated what the new guidelines will comprise.

“It’s incumbent upon all of us to recognize soberly that COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon, until there is a vaccine and/or an effective therapy.”

Newsom’s order for bars to close in Los Angeles and six other counties followed moves by Texas and Florida to shut all their bars on Friday.

“Science shows that face coverings and masks work.”

“As we reopen inevitably we’re going to see an increase in the overall number of cases.”

Newsom suggests Trump’s tactics are part of his political agenda to deflect.