Record-breaking day: 20 new virus deaths reported in El Paso
EL PASO, Texas - Public health officials reported a record number of COVID-19 deaths in El Paso Thursday morning.
They announced the virus had killed another 20 people, the highest single-day increase reported in El Paso County.
The previous record was 15 new deaths reported on July 23.
A total of 330 people have now died of Covid-19 in El Paso.
All the new victims had underlying health conditions. They include:
- One woman in her 40's
- Two men in their 40's
- One man in his 50's
- Two women in their 60's
- One man in his 60's
- Three women in their 70's
- Two men in their 70's
- Two women in their 80's
- Four women in their 90s
- Two men in their 90's
Local officials have said numerous times that the deaths they report usually don't happen on the same day. This time, they said those people died between the third week of July and the first week of August. They have explained that it takes time to confirm someone has died of the virus.
Officials said deaths are announced at the same time because they receive death certificate information around the same time.
Thursday's record came the same day Texas Gov. Greg Abbott visted El Paso. He came to examine the impact the pandemic has had in the city.
Officials also reported 168 new cases. That means El Paso has now had a total of 17,378 confirmed cases.
They said another 331 people recovered, so there have been 12,882 recoveries - although experts say recovered persons can face long-term health impacts from having contracted the virus.
That leaves El Paso with 4,166 known active cases.
Hospitalizations due to the virus increased to 194. Officials said 69 of those patients are in the ICU and 37 on ventilators.
The number of people in the hospital has been steadily declining for the past three weeks, as you can see in the graphic below:
