EL PASO

El Paso City Council to decide fate of mask mandate litigation Tuesday

Anthony Jackson
El Paso Times

The El Paso City Council will consider advising the city attorney to drop litigation related to the enforcement of masks and face coverings Tuesday. 

The item is listed on the upcoming City Council meeting and would prompt city staff to cease all work related to litigation to "better prioritize staff time and taxpayer funds toward efforts more likely to be successful."

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The city of El Paso was ordered to temporarily lift its mask mandate by the 8th Court of Appeals on Sept. 30. 

The decision was based on the Texas Supreme Court's Aug. 26 decision in the city of San Antonio and Bexar County case that upheld Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order banning local municipalities and school districts from implementing mask mandates. 

The face covering mandate was revived in August after the City Council voted, during an emergency meeting, to allow the City Attorney's Office to sue Abbott's office over the executive order limiting local governments' response to COVID-19, including enforcing mask mandates. Shortly after the vote, Dr. Hector Ocaranza, the city/county local health authority, issued the mandate. 

Members of the City Council who voted in favor of the measure said the mandate was to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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Latest COVID-19 infections, breakthrough cases and vaccination numbers

As of Friday, 77% of the community's population ages 12 and older was fully vaccinated and 89.5% was partially vaccinated.

Last week, 11 COVID-19 deaths were reported, health officials said. Nine of the 11 patients had underlying health conditions, and three deaths were from breakthrough cases. They were two women in their 40s, a man and woman in their 50s, two men and one woman in their 60s, two men and one woman in their 80s and a man in his 90s.

Also, 230 new breakthrough COVID-19 cases were reported last week. 

There were 765 new COVID-19 cases reported last week. There also were 25 additional cases that were part of the delayed local results issued by the state to the Department of Public Health.

On Friday, city officials reported 146 new COVID-19 cases, for a total of 147,883 in the county; two new deaths, for a death toll of 2,822; 2,091 active cases, with 142,812 people having recovered from the disease; and 125 people hospitalized from the illness, including 38 in intensive care and 17 on ventilators.

There have been 3,214 breakthrough cases and 30 breakthrough deaths, as well as 215 hospitalizations, with 50 patients placed in ICU and 16 on ventilators. 

COVID-19 testing in El Paso

El Paso health officials are reminding the public to get tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

Symptoms to look out for include:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

El Pasoans can get a rapid-result test or a nasal swab PCR test. Ocaranza said PCR nasal tests are the "golden standard."

A list of locations offering rapid COVID-19 tests by private providers can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/yca5se8r. 

Testing through city-run clinics is free, and no appointments are required. They are available: 

  • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday at County SportsPark, 1780 N. Zaragoza Road. 
  • Noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza.
  • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Marty Robbins Recreation Center, 11620 Vista Del Sol Drive. 
  • Noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Don Haskins Recreation Center, 7400 High Ridge Drive. 

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Need the COVID-19 vaccine?

People can register and schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine with the city online at epcovidvaccine.com, or show up at any city vaccination site without an appointment.

Residents are urged to get COVID-19 vaccinations from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza. Appointments are not needed.

COVID-19 clinics are open to individuals 12 years old and older.

Vaccinations are available at the following locations from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday:

  • 220 S. Stanton St. (corner of First and Stanton streets)
  • 9341 Alameda Ave.
  • 7380 Remcon Circle
  • 9566 Railroad Drive

If you have questions about the city's COVID-19 vaccination sites or services, call 915-212-6843. 

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Anthony Jackson may be reached  at ADJackson@elpasotimes.com and @TonyAnjackson on Twitter.