Will state’s bumpy vaccine rollout, more contagious virus mutations, and decision to open up send Covid-19 cases surging again?

The new variant so far has been detected in six people in the Golden State, after its initial discovery in the U.S. in a Colorado National Guardsman.

The state recorded 23,272 cases Tuesday and has averaged 23,503 new cases a day over the last week, according to health officials.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new stay-at-home order Thursday that will be targeted at regions with diminished ICU capacity.

Covid hospitalizations are on pace to rise by up to 30 percent by Christmas Eve in much of the state, according to the governor.

The mandate, which takes effect Saturday and is expected to last a month, requires most Californians to stay home from 10pm to 5am.