California first state to make official shift to endemic approach to 'live with' coronavirus
FOX NewsDec 04, 2021
The Facts
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a shift toward approaching COVID-19 as endemic, the first US state to do so.
Newsom's "SMARTER" plan, which is expected to cost the state billions, will focus on quickly spotting surges and variants, increasing healthcare staffing, stockpiling tests and masks, and combating misinformation.
The Spin
Left narrative
Strict COVID policies worked and now it's time to respond to lesser caseloads with a return to normalcy while continuing to monitor risks and potential spikes.
Right narrative
California and other Democrat-run states are responding to political polling ahead of the midterms rather than to science. When Newsom announced the mandate would be lifted, COVID deaths were triple the rate they were when restrictions were introduced.