El Paso mayor declares state of emergency due to virus, but no confirmed cases yet

EL PASO, Texas -- The city and county of El Paso declared a state of emergency Friday due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mayor Dee Margo said the declaration was a "proactive" measure following similar declarations made Friday at the state and federal level.

While there are no known cases in the El Paso area "at this time," Margo emphasized that local cases are certainly expected given the spread of the virus throughout Texas.

The El Paso health department has 800 test kits from the Centers for Disease Control. So far, officials said four people with possible symptoms had been tested - and all came back negative.

Friday's declaration activates emergency planning efforts that would create quarantine station,s if needed, and allow for the setup of emergency hospitals. In the meantime, Margo advised that all public gatherings should be limited.

"Panic won't help us, but neither will complacency," added El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego.

Margo urged all El Pasoans not to engage in hoarding of staples like toilet paper and water, saying there was no need to empty store shelves.

Officials also said there were currently no changes at El Paso's international bridges or ports of entry, which remain open.