Keep Social Distancing Over Easter Weekend, County Officials Say

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Santa Clara County legislators during a news conference Friday urged residents to continue staying indoors as much as possible during Easter weekend.

"The weather - we know on Sunday in particular - will be sunny and warm, and we all want to spend time with our families, but this year we're going to have to make some new traditions," Board of Supervisors President Cindy Chavez said Friday. "Just because you can't get close physically doesn't mean we can't be close to our friends and family."

Santa Clara Executive Officer Dr. Jeff Smith said Friday that the county wants to "reemphasize that in this marathon that we're running, at this point we're only about a mile into it."

While the county is making progress to keep the number of COVID-19 cases as low as possible, "it's far from over," he said. "We still have a long way to go with social distancing."

The coronavirus transmits rapidly and moves through crowds, he reminded the public, and again stressed the only known tool to prevent infection is social and physical distancing.

"Love your families, take care of them, and make sure you stay away from them over this weekend," Smith said.

Supervisor Dave Cortese also mentioned that while some residents may want to congregate this weekend, it is not wise to do so if the county hopes to continue keeping case numbers down.

"You can't postpone Easter, you can only cancel your gathering," Cortese said. "You can still celebrate Easter, you can do it in the parks." But, he added, residents must note that many city parks are closed, and gatherings at open county parks are prohibited outside of immediate households and friends who are responsibly distancing at six feet or more from each other. "Take advantage of the opportunity this weekend, but please do it within the guidelines," he said.

Cortese said open parks include Field Sports Park, Metcalf Motorcycle County Park, Calero County Park, Stevens Creek County Park, Lexington Reservoir County Park and the county's archery ranges and disc golf parks.

By Friday, the county's count of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 1,442 and deaths reached 47.

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