Virus deaths reach 20 for the week in El Paso, which now has more deaths & cases than San Antonio

EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso health officials reported one new coronavirus death on Saturday as the county reached 20 fatalities for the week, the deadliest weekly toll since the global outbreak arrived here locally.

The latest victim, a woman in her 50s, marked the 78th El Pasoan to have their life claimed by the virus since the start of the pandemic.

"We are once again sending our deepest condolences to the family of another member of our community," said El Paso City/County Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza, offering what has now become a too often-familiar refrain.

As ABC-7 has reported, El Paso funeral homes were working with hospitals to clear morgue space amid the rising deaths in the city.

Health leaders on Saturday also tallied 81 additional virus cases in El Paso, putting the infections to date at 2,704.

El Paso County now has more total deaths and confirmed virus cases than Bexar County, which is the San Antonio area.

At roughly two million people, it has a population more than two-times greater than El Paso County's approximately 839,000 residents.

Bexar County as of Saturday morning listed a total of 72 deaths and 2,636 cases.

El Paso's top doctor, in yet another often-familiar refrain, urged everyone to wear face masks in public and practice social distancing in an effort to help stop the virus' spread locally.

"Because there is no vaccine for this virus at this time to protect us, the best option we have is prevention," Dr. Ocaranza said.

To examine the latest data, you'll find El Paso's current virus information here and San Antonio's details here.