The death toll is rising and the adult ICU beds are reaching capacity as Stanislaus County begins to deal with the repercussions of increasing COVID-19 cases.

Since Friday the number of deaths grew by 10, for a total of 73 in the county, according to the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.

As of Monday, Stanislaus County has had 6,835 COVID-19 cases, with 3,632 currently presumed active.

In the last 24 hours, Stanislaus County recorded 327 new cases and two new deaths.

COVID-19 cases work like dominoes, with one aspect falling into another. Typically, symptoms appear within two to 14 days of being infected. Once symptoms start showing, it's usually in the second week of the illness that people experience the worst of the symptoms. Weeks after the peak of transmission is when we would see the peak of hospitalizations. The average rate of hospitalization is around seven days, unless a person has to be put on a ventilator and then the average is about 10 days, if they recover. The peaks in deaths typically hit a couple weeks after the peak in hospitalizations.

Stanislaus Office of Emergency Services spokesman Royjindar Singh said Emanuel Medical Center has made a request for additional nurses from the California Medical and Health Operational Area Coordinator program.

If the hospitals in Stanislaus County reach capacity and can no longer take admissions, the state would make the decision to send patients to other counties or open a regional site that could take COVID-19 patients from multiple counties. The regional site identified by the state is the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Singh said.

There are currently 261 people hospitalized in Stanislaus County with COVID-19. Of the 261, 57 are in ICU, the SCHSA reported. Total hospital bed availability is down to 34 percent and adult ICU bed availability is down to 1.7 percent. Sixty-five percent of the county's ventilators are available for use.

The increase in positive cases is largely spread out among people 50 years and younger, while those being hospitalized are mostly 51 years and older.

Individuals 20 years old or younger make up 14 percent of the cases in Stanislaus County and 2 percent of the hospitalizations. Those between the ages of 21 years to 30 years represent 20 percent of the cases and 6 percent of those hospitalized. People between the ages of 31 years to 40 years account for 19 percent of the cases and 11 percent of the hospitalizations. Those from 41 years to 50 years make up 17 percent of the cases and 13 percent of those in the hospital. Individuals between 51 years to 60 years represent 14 percent of the cases and 19 percent of those hospitalized. People in the age group from 61 to 70 years have 7 percent of the cases, but make up 19 percent of those hospitalized. People from 71 years to 80 years represent 4 percent of the cases and 15 percent of those in the hospital. Those 81 years to 90 years account for 4 percent of the cases and 11 percent of the hospitalizations. People 91 years and older represent 2 percent of the cases and 3 percent of the hospitalizations.

Contact spread from one person to another accounts for 58.85 percent of the cases. Community transmission, which had been down in the 20s, is now at 40.17 percent. Community transmission means there is no known exposure source. Travel accounts for .98 percent of the transmissions.

Stanislaus County's testing positive rate has grown to 13.2 percent and there is an average of 4.2 days turnaround time for results. Because of this, the health department is asking people who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19, but are currently asymptomatic, to schedule a test through their healthcare provider, rather than using one of the three free testing sites.

Additionally, anyone who has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should self-quarantine for at least 10 days.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the most common symptoms of COVID-19 as fever, dry cough, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, loss of sense of smell and/or taste and shortness of breath.

Severe cases of COVID-19 might experience difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or inability to arouse and bluish lips or face.