California showing signs of surge, governor warns

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s governor said Monday that the state is showing signs of a potential new surge of coronavirus cases. Gov. Gavin Newsom said that could prompt another shutdown of businesses and further delay school reopenings.

A business industry expert said a slowdown of business reopenings could not come at a worse time, especially for retailers that depend on the holiday shopping season for a majority of their annual sales.

Rex Hime, president and CEO of the California Business Properties Association, which is a group representing owners of commercial properties, said the consequences of a third shutdown “will be devastating.”

Newsom said his message to the business community and parents of school-aged children is to “abide by these mask mandates.”

Newsom also received a flu shot during his news conference on Monday, and urged others to do the same.

In other developments:

■ New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is raising alarm about the emergence of a handful of coronavirus hot spots in New York. The Democratic governor said Monday that just 10 ZIP codes represent one-quarter of the state’s new infections in recent testing.

Warning of a growing complacency in fighting the coronavirus,

Kentucky’s governor said Monday the state is experiencing a surge in cases that needs to be met with a commitment to public mask wearing.

■ Officials said Idaho has more than 40,500 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, and some health experts are warning that the state is entering its third wave of new infections.

■ Restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus in Chicago’s restaurants and bars will ease slightly this week, letting more customers dine and drink indoors. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the decision Monday as Illinois officials said 1,709 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been reported statewide and 13 more people have died.