California becomes second state to reach 1M COVID-19 cases

California became the second U.S. state to hit 1 million coronavirus cases Thursday, following Texas.

The state’s numbers put it at almost as many cases per person as hard-hit countries like Brazil or France, according to The New York Times. The state has seen more than 18,000 deaths during the pandemic, with only New York and Texas recording more deaths.

Although lockdown measures in the spring seemingly cleared the way to lift the restrictions in June, cases are rising again, and public health experts fear dropping temperatures will lead to more indoor gatherings.

Several cities in the state have imposed new restrictions amid rising case numbers, including San Francisco, which has prohibited indoor dining and frozen plans to return to in-person classes, according to the Times.

San Diego, meanwhile, is set to curtail indoor activities altogether beginning Saturday, including movie theaters, churches, gyms and yoga studios. In Los Angeles, public health officials have established one of the nation’s largest testing sites at Dodger Stadium.

“This is one of the most precious, dangerous and fragile moments in our fight against COVID-19,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D) said in a press briefing this week, according to the Times. “This should be a bright flashing light to all of us, to control our behavior, to not do stupid things.”