El Paso mayor, county judge urge holiday caution as Covid cases rise

EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso leaders on Wednesday urged fully vaccinated El Pasoans to get an additional vaccine shot and remain vigilant in the face of rising Covid-19 cases in the county during the holiday season.    

They also asked people to get their flu shot to prevent hospitals and healthcare workers from being overwhelmed in the coming weeks.  El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser and El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego held a joint news conference to discuss the latest rise in infections.    

Leeser said they're not mandating anything, rather they're making sure people have information.    

Samaniego said the new basis against infection should be three shots if you had the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or an extra shot if you had the J&J vaccine.  

As many as 77% of new infections among those hospitalized at University Medical Center involve patients who are not vaccinated.  

Samaniego said the purpose of the news conference was a call to action ahead of the upcoming holiday school break and holiday get-togethers.    

The mayor and judge stressed the importance of self-imposed restrictions by businesses as well as being careful in public.    

Samaniego urged the public to help curb the number of new infections with a hopeful tone.    

"Let's make this thing happen. We know we can do it," Samaniego said.