More than 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Los Angeles County each day for the past three days. In the past two weeks, there were 46,735 new cases of coronavirus infection in the entire state of California, accounting for more than one-third of the state’s cases since the pandemic began. The positive test rate climbed statewide, with a jump from 5.8% to 8.4% in Los Angeles County. By comparison, the rate in New York, which was the hardest-hit state in the country, has fallen below 1%.

The protests began following the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died on Memorial Day after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes despite his pleas for air. There have been large protests in that city as well, but public health officials in Minneapolis said they did not see a significant spike in cases following the demonstrations.

Some of the protests, including those in Los Angeles, have devolved into riots featuring arson, vandalism, and looting. Many protesters have been wearing masks, but social distancing guidelines are often ignored.

Still, Ferrer conceded that there could be several contributing factors behind the uptick in cases beyond the protests, including the reopening of some businesses and workplaces even as the county’s stay-at-home order remains in place until July.

“We’re doing the very best we can during the pandemic to save lives,” Ferrer said.