Live Active El Paso: City campaign encourages focus on personal health
EL PASO, Texas -- As Covid-19 continues to spread in El Paso, city leaders are launching a new campaign to improve the health of residents in the area.
'Live Active El Paso' is geared toward helping residents avoid and manage preventable diseases that can make coronavirus more dangerous. The goal is to improve the fitness of people in El Paso and improve their chances of minimizing virus symptoms.
The program expands on the city's 'Shape It Up' program which offers participants points for various wellness activities, such as flu shots and physical exams.
A spokesperson for the City of El Paso also says the program will help showcase and promote local gyms and fitness businesses.
"The key is to just be consistent with it (fitness). Start at your level and your pace,' said Lizzie Martinez, the co-owner with Sun City Athletic Club, one of the facilities working with the city on the campaign.
Martinez says just starting a fitness journey can be the hardest part, but it can have a range of benefits for an individual's overall health.
"Because of Covid, it's a life or death situation now," Martinez said. "You need to stay healthy and keep your fitness levels up so if you do contract it, you can fight it better."
A spokesperson for the City of El Paso said the program should help residents prevent conditions that can worsen outcomes among patients with the virus.
"There are a number of underlying health conditions that people in El Paso are dealing with: high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and these sorts of underlying conditions can really contribute a person's vulnerability when dealing with Covid-19," said Tracey Jerome, a deputy city manager, who is helping spearhead the program.
Jerome says the program will include partnerships with local gyms and the city hopes to roll out free fitness activities and cooking classes. She hopes El Pasoans heed the message and take advantage of the opportunities.
"Live active, El Paso. Get out there. Do what you can and do what you will," Jerome said.
