Newsom apologizes for breaking COVID rules

Newsom apologizes for breaking COVID rules

California Governor Gavin Newsom apologized for flouting his own coronavirus guidelines at a restaurant earlier this month.

California Governor Gavin Newsom apologised on Monday for flouting his own coronavirus guidelines.

Newsom had dined at a restaurant in Napa Valley earlier this month with members of several other households.

Photos carried by local media showed that none of the attendees were wearing masks or social distancing, contrary to the governor's own guidance.

That set off controversy given that California has reimposed some of the strictest social distancing restrictions in the nation, including a mask mandate, mandatory curfew and no indoor service at bars and restaurants.

"I made a mistake being with a few extra people beyond the guidelines that I've been promoting, which is outside the household.

So that was a mistake and I let my guard down and I apologized for it." Newsom has been isolating at his home in Sacramento after his three children were exposed to the virus.

California's latest measures come as the state's number of daily COVID-19 cases doubled last week.

The surge in cases across the United States comes as millions of Americans appear to be disregarding public health warnings and traveling to see family over the Thanksgiving holiday.