MARTINEZ — Contra Costa County and Martinez school district officials said Thursday that they are coordinating use of part of a high school campus near the county’s regional medical center as a care site during an expected surge of COVID-19 cases.

In a social-media post Thursday evening, Martinez police said in part that the state Office of Emergency Services in conjunction with Contra Costa Health Services will be using Alhambra High School for a “temporary care location.”

The site was being set up for the anticipated increase in cases in Contra Costa County, which reported an additional 23 cases Thursday, the county’s largest single-day increase so far.

In a separate statement, Martinez Unified School District Superintendent C.J. Cammack struck a cautious tone, balancing the need to contribute alongside other community institutions with the welfare of students, parents and educators.

“Just as I am committed to doing our collective part to support our county and the overall COVID-19 response, I am equally committed to ensuring the AHS campus will be a safe place for all staff and students, prior to reopening for any school-related functions,” Cammack said in part.

“If anything highlights the importance of our collective actions to stay home and the magnitude of our current health crisis related to COVID-19, it is this development. We must continue to work together, in ways we might not have ever imagined to be part of the solution.”

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Inside the Raiders: Why Jon Gruden waited so long to say he had coronavirus Cammack also shared initial details of the plan, expected to involve use of the campus gym and its commons and kitchen areas, but no use of classrooms or other areas. The campus is expected to remain closed during any temporary use, with staff set to receive further briefing soon.

Six Bay Area counties announced earlier this week that they would keep public schools closed through at least May 1 during the outbreak.

Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.