California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the first known case of the new coronavirus variant in the nation's most populous state during an online conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci. The first U.S. case was found in Colorado. Office of the Governor/AP hide caption
A California National Guard medic prepares to check the vital signs of an incoming patient in front of triage tents outside St. Mary Medical Center last week in Apple Valley amid a surge in COVID-19 patients in Southern California. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption
California Gov. Gavin Newsom holds up a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine this week at a Los Angeles medical facility. Coronavirus cases continue to soar in the state as hospitals struggle to keep up with the surge. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption
A demonstrator holds a sign in the Mission in San Francisco on Nov, 16 calling for shelter-in-place hotel rooms to remain available for unhoused residents. Beth LaBerge/KQED hide caption
These days only park rangers and loggers are allowed in to Big Basin Redwoods State Park following a devastating wildfire that destroyed most of the infrastructure in California's oldest and one of its most iconic state parks. Big Basin is home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coastal redwoods south of San Francisco. Eric Westervelt/NPR hide caption
A nurse cares for a coronavirus patient in the intensive care unit at El Centro Regional Medical Center in California's hard-hit Imperial County on July 28. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption
The captain of the dive boat that caught fire last September was charged with 34 counts of seaman's manslaughter after prosecutors found his failure to follow safety rules during the three-day diving trip resulted in the death of 33 passengers and one crew member. Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP hide caption
A patient is treated for COVID-19 at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. Hospitalizations because of the coronavirus are surging in California. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a coronavirus testing facility last month in Valencia. Newsom says his family will quarantine for two weeks after three of his children came into close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP hide caption
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, pictured receiving a coronavirus test on Oct. 30, apologized to residents on Monday for attending a birthday party with too many guests. "I need to preach and practice, not just preach," he said. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP hide caption
A traffic warden directs traffic as people arrive and depart from the coronavirus testing venue at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
A California ballot measure over whether Uber and Lyft should treat their drivers as employees divided gig workers but was approved by voters. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
A firefighter battles the Silverado Fire Monday,in Irvine, Calif. The wildfire forced evacuation orders for 60,000 people in Southern California. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption
Uber and Lyft have been fighting a California labor law that would require them to treat drivers as employees rather than independent contractors. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Disneyland and other California theme parks remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic... even as theme parks in Florida have been open for months. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption