El Paso leaders believe virus deaths have stabilized, but worry about case spike from Labor Day

EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso city and county leaders along with health officials gave an update Thursday afternoon on the coronavirus situation in the community.

On Thursday, El Paso’s virus death toll surpassed 450 with 3 new deaths reported. But City-County Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza said he believed the mortality rate has now stabilized.

Mayor Dee Margo expressed concern that cases could spike again in two weeks as a result of the Labor Day holiday weekend. He noted that the community has seen infection surges following every holiday since the pandemic began.

Ten citations and 50 warnings were issued for violation of state and local health mandates recently, the mayor said.

County Judge Ricardo Sameniego joined Margo in urging El Pasoans to get flu shots to avoid the possibility that local hospitals are overrun with flu cases while trying to treat Covid-19 patients.