Santa Clara County saw its total of coronavirus cases and deaths rise to 1,621 as of Sunday with 55 new cases and three new deaths. The total number of deaths now stands at 54.

The county now has recorded 194 people hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Saturday, nine more than on Friday, with 72 of those patients in intensive care. On Friday, the county recorded 185 people hospitalized with the coronavirus, 100 fewer patients from the day before.

The county Public Health Department has also broken out cases by city. Palo Alto has 61 cases and Mountain view has 34 as of Sunday.

As of Friday, San Mateo County reported 652 cases and the death toll has stayed at 21 since April 6. As of Monday, the county reported 49 more cases, bringing its total to 701.

A total of 72 patients have been hospitalized with the virus as of Monday morning, 20 of whom are in intensive care. Another 29 ICU beds are occupied by people without the virus, leaving another 42 beds available as needed.

The county on Monday morning provided totals for how many surge beds and ventilators are in use, 101 and 52, respectively, though the numbers don't differentiate which ones are for COVID-19 patients and which ones are for other hospital patients.

The total number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases in the state, meanwhile, has reached 21,794, with 651 deaths as of Sunday, according to the California Department of Public Health.

County and state officials put out public service announcements over the weekend asking people to continue sheltering in place over the Easter weekend and to refrain from holding public Easter egg hunts in parks.

$100 million to support child care

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the release of a $100 million child care package on Friday to support child care services and child care providers who are serving essential infrastructure workers and vulnerable populations and their children during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Of the funding, $50 million will go to the California Department of Education to pay for up to 20,000 limited-term, additional state-subsidized slots for child care. The other $50 million will go to the department to ensure child care centers, facilities and family-provider homes are safe and clean for the children and families they are serving. The funding reimburses the providers for the purchase of gloves, face coverings, cleaning supplies and other labor related to cleaning in accordance with federal and state public health and safety guidelines.

Sheriff announces positive cases

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office on Saturday announced that two of its professional staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. They have been quarantined at home and are under a physician's care.

The agency did not elaborate on the staff members but said they haven't been to work since late March. The two cases appear unrelated. The areas where they work have been professionally cleaned.

No inmates, correctional officers nor deputies have tested positive in the county correctional facilities. The correctional department is screening anyone who enters the facilities and with decreased inmates populations therein ample space to quarantine inmates if needed. The facilities are being deep sanitized regularly and inmates and staff practice social distancing, the department said.

Open spaces

Visiting San Mateo County open spaces will no longer be an option on the weekends for the time being. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has closed all of its open spaces in the county on Saturdays and Sundays effective April 11.

The shutdowns were requested by San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow and apply to the following areas:

● Coal Creek.

● El Corte de Madera Creek.

● La Honda Creek.

● Los Trancos.

● Pulgas Ridge.

● Purisima Creek Redwoods.

● Ravenswood.

● Russian Ridge.

● Skyline Ridge.

● Teague Hill.

● Thornewood.

Long Ridge and Windy Hill open space preserves are already fully closed until further notice, including on weekdays.

Read more about the closures here.

Many Santa Clara County parks and trails were open, including restroom facilities, during Easter weekend, but county officials reiterated at a press conference Friday to maintain social distance and, if possible, avoid heavily populated trails.

"Cut your trips short and plan ahead," county Supervisor Dave Cortese said. "Choose trails that are less frequented."

Residents should also only gather with family members they have sheltered in place with or friends that have closely followed the social distancing rules.

For more information on which trails and parks may be opened, visit sccgov.org.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Palo Alto Weekly Editorial Assistant Lloyd Lee and Kate Bradshaw, a reporter for sister publications The Almanac and Mountain View Voice, contributed to this story.

Find comprehensive coverage on the Midpeninsula's response to the new coronavirus by Palo Alto Online, the Mountain View Voice and the Almanac here.