Texas Border Business
Today, El Paso continues to break records for new infections and hospitalizations. The El Paso City/County Health Authority reported 1,443 new COVID-19 cases, and 853 patients hospitalized (a nearly 40 percent hospitalization rate). Our hospitals are running out of space; the state is setting up the El Paso Convention Center as an alternate site along with medical tents at all local hospitals
Last night, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego took much needed steps toward maintaining public health and safety by issuing Stay Home, Work Safe Order 12, requiring that people restrict their movements to only what is essential. The main provisions of the order are included in the image below, and you may click on the image to see the entire order.
I am in full support of this order, as is the entire El Paso State Delegation. Last night, we issued this statement:
“El Paso finds itself at a critical moment in combating COVID-19. In recent weeks, El Paso has had the highest rate of infections of any metro area over 400,000 in the country. In the past 10 days, the number of hospitalizations has doubled, with a current hospitalization rate of 36 percent.
“Our local leaders must take swift action to reverse this dangerous trend. State and federal resources have been mobilized to increase hospital capacity and staffing, expand test sites, and assist with critical contact tracing efforts. However, recent efforts to encourage individuals to voluntarily minimize their activities have not been able to slow the spread of the virus, necessitating additional restrictions.
“We applaud Judge Samaniego and the County for taking these bold, life-saving actions, especially through encouraging and enforcing science-based strategies to contain the virus. Unless you’re engaging in essential activities, please follow the basic guidelines: stay at home, wear a mask and distance when out, and wash hands often.“
TESTING
Our community still needs more testing and contact tracing to identify where COVID-19 is spreading. The image below includes all of the current state testing sites available in El Paso. Click here for a full list of public and private locations that offer testing or on the image.
VOTING
As the order states, “Election activities shall be considered an essential function and under no circumstances does this Order affect the voting or campaigning for candidates on the November 3, 2020 ballot. … The public should be assured that election activities are safe and follow all appropriate social distancing and face covering measures.”
Each voter will be given a kit with hand wipes, disposable marking utensil, finger cot, and “I voted” sticker. You can click here to find more information about procedures to reduce risk and ensure safe voting and click here to find polling locations and times.
Voting is essential to our democracy. Please exercise your right safely, and take care of yourself and those around you.
