New COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations in El Paso plateau, decline

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso leaders shared the latest COVID-19 data during its first in-person meeting Monday since the start of the pandemic.

New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have plateaued and declined, according to city manager, Tommy Gonzalez.

Since the end of August, COVID-19 cases have fallen below 35 percent, Gonzalez provided to council.

Hospitalizations due to COVID have slowed down to 117 to 127 patients, Gonzalez added. The majority of people hospitalized are adults 45 and older.

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Council also received an update on the virus situation from El Paso doctor Hector Ocaranza.

Despite the downward trend in cases and hospitalizations, Ocaranza warned them the virus is dangerous for the unvaccinated.

"We see that the vast majority, about 90 percent [in hospitals]are unvaccinated. So the vaccine has been proven to be very effective in preventing hospitalization and death. So that's the message that we want to continue to emphasize- people might be a little hesitant to receive the vaccine because of the side effects or the reaction that they can have, because of the vaccine. But the benefits of having the vaccine- this is one of them," Ocaranza said.

About 10 percent of new cases require hospitalization, said Ocaranza.

Cases in school-aged children decreased by 40 percent in the last two weeks, Gonzalez stated.

Pediatric patients in El Paso area hospitals has remained low and stable.

The vaccination rate among ages 12 to 15 continues to increase. At total of 69 percent of El Paso's pediatric group are vaccinated.

A total of three-fourths of El Paso's population, that are eligible for the vaccine, have been vaccinated against the virus, according to Gonzalez.

El Paso continues to be ahead in COVID-19 vaccinations in Texas.

A total of 74 percent of eligible people in El Paso are fully vaccinated. A total of 7 percent in El Paso are partially vaccinated with one dose.

Gonzalez ended his update, saying El Paso is 1 percent away from reaching herd immunity, that's if the CDC does not change its definition of community immunity.

"I'm thinking that that number is probably going to change from the CDC," Gonzalez said. "I know there’s a push to have even more people vaccinated, so just be ready for that, in terms of that change that might be coming down."

Gonzalez and Ocaranza believe the mask mandate have helped slow down the spread of the virus.

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