‘Hospitals near break point’: El Paso shatters record with 3,100 new virus cases; hospitalizations top 1,000
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso Health Department reported 3,100 new cases in the county on Wednesday morning, shattering a previous daily record by more than 1,000 cases.
The health department's Covid-19 dashboard also shows a massive increase in active cases. That number now stands at 21,902, also an all-time high, with a record 22.82% average positivity rate.
Health officials also announced eight new deaths, bringing El Paso's pandemic death toll to 617.
The latest fatality victims were identified as:
- 1 man in his 40s
- 1 man in his 50s
- 2 men in their 60s
- 1 man in his 70s
- 2 men in their 80s
- 1 man in his 90s
There are also now 271 deaths under investigation, an increase of 10 over the past day.
Hospitalizations rose to 1,041, which was yet another grim milestone, along with a record 311 of those patients listed in intensive care.
“Hospitalizations continue to rise sharply and unfortunately more people we know will continue to succumb to the complications of this disease. What we have been asking is for all of us to take an active role in prevention and to take this pandemic seriously," El Paso's health authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza said. "Our hospitals are near breaking point, we need everyone to do their part to stop this virus.”
The release of the latest numbers came as a state court heard arguments Wednesday morning seeking an injunction to halt the county's recent shutdown order triggered by the virus crisis; the 34th District Court is set to rule by Friday.
El Paso’s crisis is unfathomable. Dr. Ocaranza says “hospitals are near breaking point”:
— Erik Elken KVIA ABC-7 (@ErikElkenKVIA) November 4, 2020
• 3,100 new cases (record)
• 21,902 active cases (record)
• 1,041 hospitalized (record)
• 311 in ICU (record)
• 22.82% avg. positivity rate (record)
• 8 deathshttps://t.co/SKfkIj6O4e pic.twitter.com/EB7Cj6zo1Y
