https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/01/coronavirus-california-records-deadliest-day-ever-passes-500000-cases/ > California recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic on Friday with 215 COVID-19 deaths, even as epidemiologists say the state might’ve finally reached a peak in the surge of cases unleashed two months ago when some lockdown restrictions on businesses and gatherings were lifted. > The 215 fatalities on Friday surpass the previous record of 193 deaths set on July 29 and are nearly double the previous day’s seven-day average of 117 fatalities. California counties also reported 8,272 new cases Friday, lower than the seven-day average it started the day with of 8,852 daily cases. It’s also lower than the 9,320 cases it recorded a week ago on July 24. The state has a seven-day testing positivity average of 6.5 percent, lower than the 14-day average of 7.2 percent.