The California Assembly had to delay its return from a scheduled summer break as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak started infecting the people in the state capitol.

Five people who work for the Assembly have tested positive for COVID-19, including Assemblywoman Autumn Burke.

Burke confirmed she tested positive for the virus on Monday. It was thought that Burke had been infected last month, when lawmakers approved the $202 billion budget, reported the Associated Press.

The Assembly was scheduled to return to work on July 13, but Speaker Anthony Rendon said it will have to stay on a break until further notice.

In a report from ABC 7, Burke said she was informed by the Assembly's human resources department that she had a "mask-to-mask" contact to the virus on June 26. She was tested on July 4.

Burke said she and her daughter did not have any symptoms. She added that both of them will be quarantined until released by a doctor. As someone who was very careful around people, she was "heartbroken" that she still got exposed to the virus.

Burke said she was wearing a mask when she interacted with the person she later knew was infected, reported the CBS Los Angeles. The other person was also wearing a mask.

He said they have made the decision to protect members, staff and the public from exposure. Rendon added that it also comes with the news of positive COVID-19 tests in the Capitol.

Local Governments Closed Down due to COVID-19

Many local governments closed down early this year as the COVID-19 pandemic spread in the United States.

In California, lawmakers missed two months of work. This is the first time the Capitol had a break that is not on schedule in 158 years. Other legislatures returned to work later on. They placed restrictions to limit the spread of the virus.

For California, the rules included mandatory masks for lawmakers and physical distancing was done in the chamber.

COVID-19 Hospitalizations Increased in California

New restrictions on bars and restaurants were put in place in California as more young people are getting the virus. The surge of COVID-19 cases in the state also prompted the delay of the Capitol's return to session.

In California, hospital admissions went up 56 percent in the past two weeks and the confirmed cases went up by 53 percent.

Overall, some 32,000 hospital beds can be used by new patients since 74,000 are in use. In the past weeks, hospitalizations went up.

The county public health head Barbara Ferrer said the state is unlike where it was two to four weeks ago. "Cases are surging, hospitalizations are increasing and mostly this is a reflection of a lot more community spread," she said.

During the Fourth of July weekend, Governor Gavin Newsom set up teams to put rules into effect. The teams only issued 52 citations then, but most businesses followed state rules, Newsom said.

He said an "overwhelming majority" of people did the right thing. "Even if people were out of compliance, the engagement got people back into compliance very quickly," he noted.

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