Watch: Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses California COVID-19 testing, vaccine distribution

Gov. Gavin Newsom gave an update on COVID-19 and California wildfires at a press conference Monday afternoon.

Missed the press conference? You can watch it here.

The Democratic governor also gave an update on the state’s work with the federal government on developing a vaccine distribution plan.

The federal government worked with California and a handful of other states to develop vaccine plans that could serve as a model for the rest of the country.

Newsom announced a new “advisory committee” related to that effort.

At an event hosted Friday by California think tank the Milken Institute, Newsom discussed a massive new testing lab in the state and the state’s work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prepare for coronavirus vaccine distribution.

Newsom said Friday that the state has already hired 500 workers to staff the lab in Southern California, an apparent reference to the lab California contracted with diagnostics company PerkinElmer to build. The state’s $1.7 billion contract with the company aims to more than double the state’s testing.

This story was originally published October 19, 2020 at 11:26 AM with the headline "Watch: Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses California COVID-19 testing, vaccine distribution."