Gov. Newsom promises move toward reducing restrictions as he shares record unemployment numbers

Watch Newsom's news conference here.

(KION) Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a news conference Friday that nearly four million Californians have filed for unemployment insurance since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but said California will soon be moving towards reducing restrictions.

Newsom said 3.9 million Californians have filed for unemployment since March 12, and the state has distributed $7.5 billion in benefits. He said another 340,000 have signed up for Pandemic Unemployment Insurance.

Newsom also said the key to stopping job losses is lifting restrictions and changes in the Stay at Home order that are in the works. He addressed protests going on around the state, saying he understands the frustration, but said changes will likely be announced as soon as next week.

“We are getting very, very close to making some announcements that I think will be very meaningful to people in the retail sector, in the hospitality sector — yes, that includes in that second phase, restaurants — again, with serious modifications,” said Newsom. “We’ve got teams of people working – not just internally, but externally — to look at each type of business, within each type of industry, and looking at sectoral and individual augmentations and guidelines that will be necessary and a requirement of any meaningful reopening.”