California is "in the midst of a surge," as the COVID-19 test positivity rate has increased 51% in two weeks, state Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said.

"These numbers are really going up and going up quickly," Ghaly said during a press briefing Tuesday.

The state reported 15,329 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. The 14-day positivity rate is 5.6%.

COVID-19 hospitalizations have gone up 81.3% over the last 14 days, and intensive care unit hospitalizations increased 57.1% during that period. There are currently 5,844 hospitalizations and 1,397 ICU hospitalizations in the state.

Ghaly warned that 12% of today's cases end up hospitalized about two to three weeks later, and that ICU units in parts of the state are already being pressed.

Four more counties also moved to California's most restrictive reopening tier on Tuesday, bringing the total number of "purple" counties to 45 -- nearly 95% of the state's population. No counties are left in the yellow tier, the least restrictive of the four.

ABC News' Bonnie Mclean contributed to this report

COVID-19 fatality rates continue to increase globally, with more than 67,000 new deaths reported in the week ending Nov. 22, according to the World Health Organization.

That continues an upward trend since mid-October, according to the WHO's weekly global epidemiological situation report.

The European region is the largest global contributor of new cases and fatalities, with Italy reporting the highest number of new cases in the region and the third-highest globally. Cases have decreased 6% in Europe, "a sign that the re-introduction of stricter public health and social measures ... is beginning to slow transmission," the report said.

The U.S. reported a 14% increase in cases and a 23% increase in deaths, according to the report. Fatalities nearly doubled over previous weeks in Puerto Rico.

The African region reported the highest increase in new cases (15%) and deaths (30%) this week, according to the report.

ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report

France will begin lifting its COVID-19 restrictions this week, President Emmanuel Macron announced.

"The peak of the second wave of the epidemic has passed," Macron said Tuesday during an address to the nation, but warned the virus remains "very present" in France.

The president outlined three stages of opening. Starting Saturday, all businesses can reopen until 9 p.m., and at-home services, such as hairdressers, can resume. Religious services up to 30 people will be permitted, and more outdoor activity will be allowed. Residents still need permission slips to leave their homes.

The country's lockdown could end by Dec. 15 if COVID-19 cases are below 5,000 per day, Macron said. At that stage, residents will no longer need permission slips to move about, including between regions, and can celebrate family holidays. Cinemas, theaters and museums will be able to reopen, and a nightly curfew will operate from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

By Jan. 20, if cases are below 5,000 per day, restaurants, bars, cafes and gyms can reopen, and the curfew will be reduced. High schools will also fully reopen for in-person learning, followed by universities 15 days later.

Authorities are working to make testing more efficient, with the goal of having test results within 24 hours by Jan. 20, Macron said.

The president also announced financial support for those affected by lockdowns; restaurants, bars, nightclubs and sports halls can receive 20% of their turnover for the year 2019, if it is more than the 10,000 euros, from the existing "solidarity fund."

ABC News' Ibtissem Guenfoud contributed to this report

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine candidate could be distributed "soon after Dec. 10," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said during an Operation Warp Speed briefing Tuesday.

Pfizer applied for emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration last week, and a hearing date was set for Dec. 10 to discuss the vaccine's possible authorization.

"If all goes well, we could be distributing vaccines soon after Dec. 10," possibly within 24 hours of FDA authorization, Azar said.

Elderly care facilities and health care providers will be the first to be offered the vaccine, according to U.S. officials.

Officials addressed an increase in vaccine hesitancy amidst the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health leaders are working on a campaign to educate the public on the need to be vaccinated and the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, Azar said.

“I will get myself vaccinated as soon as I will be allowed to be vaccinated, to demonstrate to the American people my complete confidence in the independence and integrity of the process and the quality of any vaccine that I would make available to the American people,” Azar later added.

ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos contributed to this report

Vermont officials are urging people who had Thanksgiving gatherings with those outside their household to now quarantine.

“My request to Vermonters who may have participated in travel and/or multi-household gatherings is simply this: Please quarantine yourselves at home, and please get tested now and in seven days,” state Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said during a press briefing Friday.

Gov. Phil Scott echoed the health commissioner’s request.

“If you have had one of those gatherings yesterday, then you shouldn't send your kids to school next week," he said. "You should quarantine your kids for at least seven days, get a test, and then we'll move forward."

Scott said earlier in the week that school officials will ask returning students if they attended a Thanksgiving gathering with people outside their household to determine quarantine requirements.

"We did all of this to try and protect Vermont, to try and prevent the rise in the number of cases," Scott said Friday.

ABC News' Joshua Hoyos contributed to this report