El Paso PD, City Departments Begin Enforcing County Shutdown Order
Now that a state district court judge has denied the State of Texas’ request for a temporary injunction and ruled El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego's COVID-19-related shutdown is in force, the City of El Paso has begun enforcing the order.
The El Paso Police Department, Fire Marshall’s Office, Code Enforcement Department, and the Department of Public Health will enforce El Paso County Stay at Home Order 13 effective immediately, per a statement released by the city on Friday (11/6).
Additionally, The City also announced it has doubled active staffing “for COVID-19 enforcement” on the El Paso Police Department Mitigation Response Team and Department of Public Health, and increased its numbers within the El Paso Fire Department Mitigation Response Team.
Deputy City Manager Dionne Mack said in the city press release the teams would be conducting enforcement “where there are the most complaints about COVID-19 non-compliance,” specifically in the parts of town identified as hot spots “as determined by a recent analysis of the data by staff.”
Samaniego maintains the Order was and is necessary to help slow the resurgence of COVID-19 in our community, which has resulted in an increase of deaths, hospitalizations, and new active positive cases. El Paso is currently at STAGE 1 in the COVID-19 Community Scorecard, which the county judge points out, is the worst scenario.
About El Paso County Stay Home Order No. 13
A curfew is in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. unless that person is out conducting an essential business or task.
All businesses that are non-essential must close:
• Tattoo Parlors
• Hair Salons
• Nail Salons
• Gyms
• Massage businesses
• In-person dining
All essential businesses can remain open:
• Schools that provide meal services
• Childcare facilities
• Grocery stores
• Funeral services
• All healthcare offices and facilities
• Pharmacies
• Government operations
• Retail-to-Go Services (and others listed in the Order)
The Order, which expires on Wednesday, Nov. 11, unless extended, encompasses the County of El Paso, which includes the City of El Paso, the Town of Anthony, Town of Clint, Town of Horizon, City of San Elizario, City of Socorro, the Village of Vinton, and all unincorporated areas of the County.