Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser reported Tuesday the largest single-day increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases since tracking began, with more than 200 additional cases bringing the county total to 1,961.

The increase came as Gov. Gavin Newsom laid out metrics for reopening California. The number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide has started to slow, signaling the Golden State is successfully flattening the curve.

Confirmed cases in California climbed from 22,348 on Monday to 23,338 on Tuesday, a rise of 4%.

Riverside County health officials reported no new virus-related deaths along with the 210 new cases, leaving the death toll unchanged at 50. A total of 376 people have recovered, officials said, which is 79 more than reported Monday. Cases have nearly doubled since last week, April 7, when the total was 1,016.

Compared to the previous day, cases in the Coachella Valley increased by 34, plus an additional nine cases in unincorporated communities.

Kaiser said the county is still back-logged on testing by two days and continues to under-test. Because of this, Kaiser said the community shouldn’t expect to transition out of the stay-at-home and social distancing orders anytime soon.

Kaiser said to keep up, Riverside County would need to perform 4,000 to 8,000 tests a day. Among the county’s testing sites, 2,200 tests can be conducted per day.

Kaiser said to start moving toward re-opening the community, the county needs to have the capacity to test asymptomatic individuals as well.

“We are not there yet,” Kaiser said. “It might be several more weeks (until we start lifting restrictions) and even then it will have to be gradual and step-by-step, and there will be long-term changes on how we live our lives and do business.”

In San Bernardino County, officials reported 90 new coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the county's total to 977 positive cases. More than 9,300 tests had been conducted, yielding a percent positive rate of about 10.4%. The county attributed 31 deaths to the virus, the same number as reported the day before. No change to the figures was reported as of 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Imperial County on Tuesday said it had a total of 117 confirmed coronavirus cases, up 17 from the day before, with three deaths; a total of 977 people had been tested, with a positive rate of nearly 12%. The majority of cases are people ages 18 to 49 years old and clustered in the county zip codes that most closely border Mexicali. Imperial County said that 39 people had recovered.

One week ago, there were 73 positive cases in Imperial County, and 596 patients had been tested for the virus.

Newsom on Tuesday announced six indicators he and his team are watching to determine how and when to lift the statewide social distancing orders that have been in place since March 11.

While he didn't give a specific date that restrictions on movement and business would begin being rolled back, he indicated that officials will reevaluate their timeline in the next two weeks.

Still, an additional 71 Californians died from the virus since he reported Monday's figures. Statewide, a total of 758 deaths have been blamed on coronavirus.

As of Tuesday, 3,124 people were hospitalized in the state due to the virus, including 1,177 in intensive care.

"We move from surge into suppression," Newsom said, adding that officials see a light at the end of the tunnel. But, he cautioned, this is "perhaps the most difficult and challenging phase of all," and emphasized that "this phase is one where science, where public health, not politics must be the guide."

California’s six indicators for modifying the stay-at-home order are:

The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating and supporting those who are positive or exposed;

The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19;

The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges;

The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand;

The ability for businesses, schools and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and

The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

As of Monday, the demographic breakdown of confirmed cases in California was roughly in line with the state's overall diversity, based on information from 63% of the cases.

The latest California numbers show Latinos with the highest percentage of coronavirus cases at 35%, followed by whites with 32% of cases, Asians at 13%, and African Americans with 7% of total cases. Two percent of cases have been among Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders, 0.2% have been among American Indians or Alaska Natives, 2% among people who identified as multiracial, and 9% who identified as "other."

Looking at 86% of the state's coronavirus deaths, the state found whites made up the highest share of deaths with 41% of the cases. That's followed by 28% of Latinos, 16% of Asians, 10% in African Americans, 1% in people who are multiracial, 0.5% in American Indian or Alaska Natives, 0.7% in Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and 1.5% in people who identified as other.

Data collected by Johns Hopkins University showed that, as of Tuesday afternoon, nearly 2 million people worldwide had contracted the virus, while more than 125,000 had died from it.

San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies recover from COVID-19

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday that four sheriff's deputies, all assigned to corrections, had recovered from COVID-19.

This comes as the department announced on Saturday that the first inmate and seventh sheriff's deputy — the fifth deputy assigned to corrections — had tested positive for the virus.

The department said Tuesday that all deputies and inmates at the county's four jail facilities were being provided with and wearing masks, and inmates had been given supplies to keep their housing areas clean. Local hotels have contributed thousands of bars of soap that have been distributed throughout the jails.

New inmates are given medical evaluations prior to entering the jails, and if necessary, will be transported to the hospital or placed in isolation. The temperature of jail staff is being taken at the beginning of each shift, according to the department.

California airports to receive federal aid

Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced Tuesday that 188 airports around California will receive a combined $1.08 billion in federal aid as the government attempts to bail them out.

Chao said in a statement that these "emergency resources will help fund the continued operations of our nation’s airports during this crisis and save workers’ jobs." The Federal Aviation Administration has encouraged airports to begin spending the money immediately.

The funding comes from the Airport Grant Program, which is part of the CARES act, and will be available for capital expenditures and operating expenses, such as payroll.

Airports will also be allowed to use the federal assistance to pay off their debts.

Palm Springs International, Jacqueline Cochran Regional, Twnetynine Palms and Banning Municipal are among the local airports receiving money. Palm Springs is receiving the most dollars locally, with more than $11 million in assistance. Los Angeles International will be receiving more than $323 million.

Riverside County receives deluge of volunteer applications

Riverside County officials put out a call over the weekend asking residents to volunteer to help the county manage the surging virus. The county needed people who could fill a variety of roles at facilities such as assisted living homes.

"This request goes out to all physicians, both active and retired, nurses, nurse assistants, as well as non-medical volunteers such as office staff or Class A and B drivers," the county's release said.

The county announced Monday afternoon that 2,000 people had submitted their names as potential volunteers. County staff are sorting through the applications and processing background checks, although they are still soliciting more volunteers.

Riverside County at high risk for job loss, new study finds

A recent study published by Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit research group in Los Angeles, found that Southern California is at particular risk of high levels of job loss because of the coronavirus.

The report found that 49% of workers in Riverside County had a high risk of unemployment as stay-in-place orders and related decrees shuttered businesses and canceled or postponed important events such as the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals. The study also found that 48% of workers in San Bernardino County and 47% in Los Angeles County faced similarly high risks.

In Northern California, however, those numbers are lower. Only one in three workers in San Francisco County, for example, face similar risk of unemployment, in part because many employment opportunities around the Los Angeles metropolitan area have historically been low wage sales jobs.

The report found that well-paying jobs were at lower risk of being cut, further insulating higher earners who are more likely to be able to work remotely. However, with half of the state's workforce earning under $40,000 per year, economic relief is needed, the study said.

"These workers are likely to have little or no financial reserves and many are encumbered with debt," according to the study. "Workers in this group who are unemployed, or become unemployed, need immediate wage replacement."

Pastors sue state officials for restricting in-person services

The Center for American Liberty, representing pastors including the Rev. James Moffatt of Riverside County, filed a lawsuit Monday against California officials including Newsom for "criminalizing" in-person religious services amidst stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

“Criminalizing individual participation at a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other house of worship clearly violates the First Amendment,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, CEO of the Center for American Liberty. “The state and localities have granted sweeping exceptions to the shutdown orders for favored businesses and professions, while specifically targeting people of faith and decreeing to religious institutions that it is ‘good enough’ that they be allowed to offer streaming video services. The state does not get to dictate the method of worship to the faithful.”

Moffatt was fined $1,000 for holding a Palm Sunday service, according to a news release from the organization.

The organization threatened a lawsuit last week. After initially restricting all in-person religious services, San Bernardino and Riverside counties both ended up allowing drive-in services for Easter weekend. Riverside County made an exception for only that weekend, while San Bernardino County said drive-in services would be allowed for that weekend and beyond.

The Center for American Liberty argues that governments "may not selectively license religious liberty to Christians on Easter Sunday."

Dhillon pointed out that not all in California have access to the internet in order to stream a religious service, and not all faith organizations have the ability to produce high-tech services.

"If a Californian is able to go to Costco or the local marijuana shop or liquor store and buy goods in a responsible, socially distanced manner, then he or she must be allowed to practice their faith using the same precautions,” Dhillon said.

Walmart adds curbside pickup hour for seniors

Walmart is now reserving an hour each day for pickup orders for shoppers most at risk for the coronavirus.

The retail giant announced Tuesday that it is launching a "pickup hour" from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. daily for customers over 60, those with disabilities and those in high-risk groups, as designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

First responders can also take advantage of Walmart's new curbside pickup hour.

"Now more than ever, families are relying on our pickup service to help get quality, fresh groceries to their homes as safely as possible," Tom Ward, Walmart senior vice president of customer product, said in a news release.

Several stores including Walmart also have added senior shopping hours. Walmart's weekly hour-long senior shopping event is every Tuesday for customers 60 and older and starts one hour before the retailer's 5,000-plus U.S. stores open.

San Bernardino County to combat homelessness during the pandemic

San Bernardino County announced efforts to temporarily house individuals experiencing homelessness amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a county release sent Monday evening.

The county has already placed 26 people in hotel units and plans to work with additional hotels to set up more temporary shelter.

The county is also slated to house additional individuals in 20 state-funded trailers at Glen Helen Regional Park in the city of San Bernardino. Each trailer can house one person or a family of two. Occupants will sign agreements requiring them to remain on the park grounds for the duration of their 14-day stay.

Those who test positive for coronavirus will be free to leave after the 14-day stretch, but San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert said the county hopes people stay longer than two weeks to work through the process of transitioning into permanent housing.

Two individuals experiencing homelessness in San Bernardino County have tested positive for coronavirus and are each slated to be housed in one of the trailers, Wert said. More information on those two cases was not immediately available.

Individuals without coronavirus as well as those who are suspected to be COVID-19 positive will be able to receive these temporary placements.

Homeless individuals over the age of 65 and those who have underlying health conditions will receive priority housing, followed by pregnant homeless women and homeless people who are exposed to the virus and require isolation, but are non-symptomatic.

“This sheltering effort is critical for not only protecting the health of homeless individuals or families but also for protecting the entire community from the spread of the novel coronavirus,” San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman said in a statement.

Of San Bernardino County's nearly 2,000 homeless individuals, officials estimate about 300 are high-risk for developing severe COVID-19 complications due to their age and underlying health conditions.

The county's goal is to secure a total of 300 temporary units to help isolate these individuals from potential exposure. The county does not yet have all of these units set up or confirmed.

The move is a response to Newsom’s executive order to protect public safety and the spread of COVID-19 among the state’s most vulnerable populations. San Bernardino County will receive a portion of the $800 million in state emergency funding to quickly implement temporary housing solutions.

The order requires counties, partnered with federal, state and local agencies, to create extensive supportive plans for homeless individuals during their stays in the temporary housing.

San Bernardino County will provide meal packages to all individuals who receive these placements, and staff will make daily phone contact.

Security will be provided at each site 24 hours a day.

Individuals who accept these placements must sign an agreement which includes a pledge for no visitors, abstinence from alcohol and substance abuse, vacating at the end of the 14-day stay, and participating in regular meetings with a case manager.

Wert said the trailers and hotels/motels commissioned to serve the homeless during the pandemic are government facilities, thus drug and alcohol use is not allowed.

New drive-up testing in San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County last week added five locations for additional drive-up coronavirus testing. Future testing dates include Friday in the Fox Farm lot in Big Bear Lake, April 22 at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree and April 27 at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga.

County residents who wish to be tested need to first make an appointment, which can be done online at sbcovid19.com.

As of Monday morning, the county had conducted 9,358 tests, with 10.4% coming back positive for coronavirus.

Economic recovery planning underway

San Bernardino County officials also have begun assembling a task force to prepare for how best to emerge from the pandemic with an intact economy. The group is called the San Bernardino County COVID-19 Recovery Coalition, and it will be directed by county board of supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.

“The sooner we start talking about what recovery and our post-COVID-19 county looks like, even while coping with the crisis itself, the stronger and more enduring our recovery will be," Hagman said in a statement, although he warned that this announcement does not mean the crisis is nearly over.

Members of the coalition have not yet been selected, so details remain sparse. But, the county said it will include partners from the business community as well as the county government.

On the county side, these will include departments focused on economic and workforce development as well as housing. From business, the following industries will have representation: transportation and logistics, health care, religious institutions, retail, manufacturing, education, hospitality and tourism.

Coachella Valley: Cases so far

County officials have confirmed 432 positive cases in Coachella Valley's nine cities as of Tuesday,and 19 virus-related deaths, including two reported the day before. Indio saw the biggest one-day jump with 11 new cases reported Tuesday out of all valley cities, which includes:

Cathedral City : 51 cases and 1 death

Coachella : 66 cases and 0 deaths

Desert Hot Springs : 22 cases and 0 deaths

Indian Wells : 10 cases and 0 deaths

Indio : 90 cases and 2 deaths

La Quinta : 33 cases and 0 deaths

Palm Desert: 65 cases and 5 deaths

Palm Springs : 72 cases and 8 deaths

Rancho Mirage : 23 cases and 3 deaths

Unincorporated communities: Bermuda Dunes : 4 cases and 0 deaths; Desert Edge : 2 cases and 0 deaths; Desert Palms : 4 cases and 0 deaths; Garnet : 6 cases and 0 deaths; Mecca : 14 cases and 0 deaths; Oasis : 4 cases and 0 deaths; Sky Valley : 1 case and 0 deaths; Thermal : 6 cases and 0 deaths; Thousand Palms : 3 cases and 0 deaths; Vista Santa Rosa : 0 cases and 0 deaths.

California: 23,338 positive cases and 758 deaths as of April 13. Local health departments have reported 2,599 COVID-19 positive cases in health care workers — roughly 11% of the total

Desert Sun reporter Nicole Hayden covers health and health care in the Coachella Valley. She can be reached at Nicole.Hayden@desertsun.com or (760) 778-4623. Follow her on Twitter @Nicole_A_Hayden. USA Today contributed to this story.