California recorded 115 new coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, the state's deadliest day since the pandemic began, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.

The one-day toll is an 8.5% increase compared to the day before, Newsom said. The tally pushes the state's total death toll to roughly 1,450. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases also rose in the last day, by 5.6%.

The figures, however, come as the number of both coronavirus hospitalizations and patients in intensive care units dropped for the second straight day, Newsom noted. The number of patients under investigation for having the virus also declined.

Still, the number of deaths serves as a "reminder we're not out of the woods yet," Newsom said.

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The governor urged residents to continue to follow social distancing guidelines and the state's stay-at-home order as the weather warms and beaches and other outdoor spaces appear more inviting.

The number of new coronavirus cases each day has remained relatively stable over the last two weeks, though deaths – a lagging indicator of the virus' spread – have increased.

California was the first state in the country to enact a stay-at-home order, imposing the restriction in March. The state has seen a significantly lower number of cases and deaths per 100,000 people than many others.

Newsom on Thursday said the eventual lifting of restrictions will depend on a number of data points. He compared the easing of mitigation measures to a "dimmer" rather than a light switch.