Coronavirus Archives

Texas Gov. Abbott issues orders to re-open some state parks, have retail to-go, but keep schools closed

April 17, 2020 9:30 AM KVIA ABC-7, Associated Press, Texas Tribune

AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday announced initial steps to begin the process of re-opening the Texas economy during the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement of eased restrictions in Texas came a day after President Donald Trump gave governors a road map for recovering from the nation’s economic pain. Abbott issued the following executive orders: All public schools,

Trump continues pushing to lift virus restrictions, but states say nationwide testing needed

April 17, 2020 3:54 PM ABC News, Associated Press

WASHINGTON, DC — Prior to holding his daily task force briefing Friday afternoon, President Trump urged supporters to “liberate” several states, apparently encouraging protests against the stay-at-home restrictions aimed at stopping the coronavirus. A day after laying out a road map to gradually reopen the crippled economy, Trump took to Twitter with the kind of

El Paso opens temporary homeless shelters in effort to combat virus spread

April 17, 2020 1:32 PM Jim Parker

EL PASO, Texas — The City of El Paso announced Friday that it is temporarily converting space at a senior center and a nearby athletic facility into homeless shelters in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The two facilities are the Delta Welcome Center at the Hilos De Plata Senior Center at 4451

What Borderland grocery chains say they’re doing to keep people safe at stores

April 17, 2020 4:43 AM Madeline Ottilie

EL PASO, Texas — Borderland grocery store chains say they are adapting in different ways to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the need for social distancing and sanitation practices in their stores. One local infectious disease expert, Dr. Armando Meza, says the responsibility also lies with the shopper. He recommends wearing protective gear like

Fun at-home static-electricity experiment to do with your kids during coronavirus outbreak from ABC-7 StormTRACK

April 17, 2020 7:16 AM Nichole Gomez

School closures due to the coronavirus outbreak mean borderland children are about to spend a lot more time at home. That’s challenging on any number of levels, with many of us wondering what can you do that’s fun and educational for your kids? They say opposites attract and that couldn’t be truer with these fun static

West Texas Poison Center reports uptick in calls about kids ingesting hand sanitizers

April 17, 2020 8:40 AM Madeline Ottilie

EL PASO, Texas — With schools out and families staying home, officials with the West Texas Poison Center report an uptick in calls about children getting their hands on cleaning supplies. The poison center reports an increase in these calls of roughly 60-70%. Officials say many small children are attracted to the bright colors of

El Paso pharmacist making hand sanitizer, selling masks in an effort to flatten curve on the east side

April 17, 2020 4:13 AM Stephanie Valle

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A pharmacist, small business owner and El Pasoan is doing his part to flatten the curve in the zip code with the most COVID-19 cases in the county. Gregory Matthews developed a formula for a hand sanitizer and he’s also selling N-95 masks. He lives in the 79946 zip code

The money is gone: Small business lending program on hold after reaching limit

April 16, 2020 10:40 AM Associated Press

NEW YORK, NY — The government’s lending program for small businesses is on hold. The Small Business Administration said Thursday that it reached the $349 billion lending limit for the program, after approving nearly 1.7 million loans. Thousands of small business owners whose loans have not yet been processed must now wait for Congress to

7th victim dies from virus as El Paso sees 3rd straight day of double-digit case increases

April 16, 2020 6:33 PM Jim Parker

EL PASO, Texas — El Paso’s Department of Public Health announced another death from the coronavirus on Thursday evening, bringing the death toll to seven in the county. The latest death, involving a man in his 60s who had underlying health conditions, came as officials also reported a third-straight day of double-digit case increases. There were

5 reasons you may not have gotten your stimulus money yet

April 16, 2020 8:31 PM CNN

About 80 million people were sent their stimulus payments this week — but if you weren’t one of them, it doesn’t mean you won’t get the money. You’re one of roughly 60 million people still waiting. About 90% of Americans are eligible for the payments, which phase out for high-income earners, according to an estimate

Trump unveils 3-phase plan for governors to re-open the economy

April 16, 2020 2:01 PM Associated Press, ABC News

WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump gave governors a road map Thursday for recovering from the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, laying out “a phased and deliberate approach” to restoring normal activity in places that have strong testing and are seeing a decrease in Covid-19 cases. RELATED STORY: This is where all 50 states

Only 1 place left in the Borderland to get a haircut, but you have to be a soldier or a vet

April 16, 2020 6:06 PM Wil Herren

FORT BLISS, Texas — All barber shops and salons across the Borderland have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, so many people have resorted to cutting their own hair or having a stylist come to their home. Some essential workers are required to get their hair cut due to their job. That’s why the

Weekly check-in Q&A with UMC’s Dr. Jose Burgos on virus pandemic

April 16, 2020 5:50 PM Mauricio Casillas

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — In an effort to deliver the most comprehensive coronavirus coverage, ABC-7 has started a new weekly feature where we ask Dr. Jose Burgos, the director of internal medicine at University Medical Center, the same seven questions each week to track how the pandemic is changing. Here’s the Q&A for Thursday,

Rent. Student loans. Utility bills. How to get help if you can’t pay your bills

April 16, 2020 10:05 AM CNN

Millions of people are enduring financial hardship after a job loss or drop in income because of the coronavirus outbreak. More than half of the jobs in the US economy are at risk, according to Moody’s Analytics. Over the past four weeks 22 million people have filed for unemployment insurance. If you are struggling, there

Las Cruces Catholic Diocese to let small numbers attend Mass

April 16, 2020 12:14 PM Associated Press, KVIA ABC-7

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — The Roman Catholic diocese in Las Cruces has announced it will reopen churches and allow a small number of people to attend public celebrations of Mass in what could be the first move to alter a diocese-declared ban on public services in the U.S. Priests were encouraged to hold public

Should young kids wear face masks? El Paso pediatrician weighs in

April 16, 2020 6:40 AM Madeline Ottilie

EL PASO, Texas — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public to reduce the likelihood of spreading or coming into contact with Covid-19. Dr. Rana Kronfol, a pediatrician with El Paso Pediatric Associates, says kids should be wearing them too, as long as your child is over

El Paso has 2 more virus deaths as total cases near 400; safety order enforcement increasing

April 15, 2020 5:06 PM Jim Parker

EL PASO, Texas — El Paso city and health officials announced two more coronavirus deaths on Wednesday evening, as the number of confirmed cases neared 400. Mayor Dee Margo said the deaths of two men, ages 52 and 82 and both with underlying medical conditions, brought the death toll to six. El Paso also recorded

False negative case? El Paso man hospitalized for several days with symptoms tests negative for virus

April 15, 2020 10:31 PM Stephanie Valle

EL PASO, Texas — David Alvarez had visited a doctor twice about a cough and breathing trouble. He tested negative for the flu, was given medication for an upper respiratory infection, and was also tested for Covid-19. “The breathing is the scariest. It wakes me up because I can’t breathe,” he said. “It feels like

El Paso nurse joins virus fight by heading to work at NY epicenter

April 15, 2020 10:42 PM JC Navarrete

EL PASO, Texas — An El Paso nurse is packing her scrubs and heading to New York to help the fight against Covid-19. Priscilla Fraire has been working as a nurse in an area hospital during the last four years. Her work, however, has taken her far and wide as she has answered the call

Dish network employees in El Paso making face shields for hospital workers at UMC

April 15, 2020 9:21 PM Mauricio Casillas

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Help can often come from unexpected place. Employees at Dish Network’s manufacturing are now making face shields for hospital workers at University Medical Center. “We started looking at what type of shortages the rest of the country was having. We jumped on the opportunity prior to it happening here, so

Union wants immediate action by governor after virus death at El Paso Psychiatric Center

April 15, 2020 8:59 PM Jim Parker

EL PASO, Texas — A state workers union on Wednesday called for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to take immediate action following the apparent coronavirus-related death of an employee at the state-run El Paso Psychiatric Center. An outbreak of the virus affecting both patients and staff at the facility is responsible for at least 32 of

Trump says U.S. ‘past the peak’; will unveil new virus guidelines

April 15, 2020 3:17 PM CNN, ABC News, Associated Press

WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump said data indicates the U.S. is “past the peak” of the Covid-19 epidemic, clearing the way for his plans to roll out guidelines to begin to “reopen” the country. Speaking during his Wednesday briefing, Trump called the latest data “encouraging,” saying they have “put us in a very strong

When will you get your stimulus payment? Here’s how to check

April 15, 2020 11:24 AM CNN

WASHINGTON, DC– The Internal Revenue Service started sending out stimulus payments this week — but while 80 million people can expect the money to hit their bank accounts by Wednesday, others will be waiting longer before the cash is in their hands. The first payments will go to those who’ve already filed their 2018 or

Pandemic takes toll on those fighting substance abuse: Resources to help

April 15, 2020 5:53 AM Madeline Ottilie

EL PASO, Texas — Uncertainty and fear stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with the need to shelter-in-place, can take a toll on our community. Some may not be coping in the healthiest ways. Sales of alcoholic beverages increased 55% in the week ending March 21 compared to the year before, according to findings from

El Paso auto dealer offers free car disinfecting for first-responders & healthcare workers

April 14, 2020 10:34 PM KVIA ABC-7

EL PASO, Texas — An El Paso automotive dealer is giving back to those working on the front lines to fight the coronavirus. Viva Auto Group is offering free anti-bacterial cleaning of vehicles belonging to first-responders and medical personnel at all of its dealership locations in the El Paso area during regular business hours. “The

El Paso’s virus death toll doubles & nearly 50 new cases occur in a day

April 14, 2020 8:02 PM Jim Parker

EL PASO, Texas — El Paso public health leaders announced two more coronavirus deaths on Tuesday evening, doubling the county’s death toll to four. The two were both men in their 70s with underlying health conditions, officials said. It was not immediately known if either man was an employee of the El Paso Psychiatric Center,

Las Cruces furniture store owner upset after state says her business isn’t essential

April 14, 2020 8:20 PM Kate Bieri

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — The owner of Ashley Furniture Home Store in Las Cruces told ABC-7 she is upset that she has had to close her doors while other stores continue to sell furniture. “It’s an essential business because people are moving into new residences,” said Wanda Bowman, the store’s owner of 50 years.

El Paso City Council members cite virus risk, push for tougher enforcement on call centers

April 14, 2020 10:22 AM Jim Parker, Saul Saenz

EL PASO, Texas — El Paso City Council members on Tuesday expressed concern that the city’s numerous call center operations are, in the words of Mayor pro-tempore Peter Svarzbein, “places that can easily spread coronavirus” in the community and called for more aggressive enforcement of the city’s “work safe” orders. There are about 35 such

Trump announces halt in funds to World Health Organization, $25 billion airline bailout deal

April 14, 2020 11:33 AM ABC News, Associated Press, CNN

WASHINGTON, DC — President Trump has directed a halt to payments to World Health Organization while the U.S. reviews coronavirus warnings regarding China. Trump said Tuesday that the outbreak could have been contained at its source and spared lives had the United Nations health agency done a better job investigating reports coming out of China.

El Paso to start using rapid virus test machine that gives results in minutes

April 14, 2020 3:55 PM Shelby Montgomery

EL PASO, Texas — El Paso’s fire chief said the city has received an Abbott ID rapid testing machine for coronavirus. Fire Chief Mario D’Agostino said the machine can produce positive results in 15 minutes and negative results in 13 minutes. Though the machine is in El Paso, it will take time before the city

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