El Paso leaders urge masks despite Texas lifting mandate

EL PASO, Texas -- Mayor Oscar Leeser and County Judge Ricardo Samaniego on Wednesday implored El Pasoans to continue wearing masks in the wake of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to lift the state's mask mandate and business occupancy limits come next week.

The El Paso leaders, speaking at a news conference to address local residents, warned that they don't want the community to go back to the days in November when El Paso was the worst hot spot in the nation for Covid-19 infections.

Leeser and Samaniego said businesses can still require patrons to wear masks, even though it's no longer a state mandate. The mayor said numerous big box retailers have told him masks will still be required in their stores.

The pair said masks would also still be required at all city and county-run buildings and facilities, including Sun Metro buses and the El Paso International Airport. In addition, capacity limits will remain in effect at city venues such as the El Paso Zoo.

Abbott said county judges can impose “mitigation strategies” if virus hospitalizations exceed 15% of all hospital capacity in their region. The current rate in the El Paso area is around 14%.

Samaniego warned that not wearing masks could quickly push that hospitalization rate above the 15% threshold, which means businesses locally would be reduced from operating at 100% to just 50% capacity again.

The judge says he doesn't want to move restrictions backward, but said it's a real possibility that could happen if people abandon wearing masks. The mayor and judge said mask wearing will ensure businesses can stay open at 100%.

Leeser and Samaniego noted that in addition to preventing Covid spread, the use of facemasks had also reduced the spread of the flu in the Borderland this season, reducing those hospitalizations too.

Leeser also recounted the recent deaths of his mother and brother to Covid. He said mask-wearing likely prevented other members of his family from becoming infected.

Samaniego, in an interview with ABC-7 on Tuesday, had made clear his vehement disagreement with Abbott - whom he said didn't consult with local leaders across the state before opting to scuttle pandemic restrictions.

The judge said he feared the governor's move could lead to yet another Covid-19 surge in the Borderland.

You can watch Wednesday's entire news conference in the video player below.