AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a crock. I'm sorry, but it really is. We are in serious trouble. Our hospitals are in danger of being overrun with COVID patients and people are not doing the things we are supposed to be doing. Restaurants and shopping are the two biggest contributors to the numbers with 37% cases coming from shopping and 25% coming from restaurants but there are no new restrictions being put on them. This was pointless.

El Paso City County Health officials went before the public on Thursday afternoon during a press conference to discuss the scary COVID-10 numbers that have been announced over the past two weeks. Margo said that the City has been buying buildings recently in order for them to be used for contact tracing and, later when a COVID-19 vaccine is available, for vaccine administration in the future. Margo said that hospitals are hitting capacity, but put to rest any thought that he might be getting ready to close the city down because of the rising COVID-19 numbers.

Margo said that he has spoke to Governor Greg Abbott's office, FEMA, and the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as other state officials to discuss the skyrocketing numbers of COVID-19 in El Paso. He said that resources are coming to El Paso in order to help stem the tide of the numbers. He also said that in addition to the resources, there will be City officials who will be visiting businesses and restaurants to make sure that they are in compliance.

Margo said that for the next 2 weeks the City will be closing City parks to all league and tournament play. Parks will only be open for public use of trails, walking paths, and playground equipment. He asked that El Pasoans stay home when possible. He said it is ok to go to work, but we need to be mindful of wearing face masks and continue social distancing. He said that if you need to go shopping that, as much as possible, designate only one person from your family to do so. He said that he understands that there are situations where that might not be possible, but if you can, leave family members at home when shopping.

Margo said that he did a drive along with an east El Paso fire station and was told by EMS that the bulk of their calls right now are COVID-19 related. Officials say that it is so easy to catch COVID-19 and that is the thing to remember. We need to change our behavior so that we don't see further restrictions put on the public.

KEEP READING: See states hit hardest by COVID-19’s impact on tourism

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