18 more virus deaths in El Paso along with 1,300 new cases

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The death toll in El Paso County now stands at 657 after the health department reported 18 new coronavirus-related deaths Friday morning.

It marks the second day in a row that El Paso has seen a double-digit increase in deaths.

The health department identified the latest victims as:

• 1 man in his 20s
• 1 woman in her 40s
• 1 man in his 50s
• 3 men in their 60s
• 3 men in their 70s
• 2 women in their 70s
• 3 men in their 80s
• 2 women in their 80s
• 2 men in their 90s

Health officials said they all had underlying health conditions.

Health officials also announced 1,300 new cases. It leaves El Paso with 23,702 known active cases, which is yet again a new record. The average positivity rate is now 24.24% in El Paso.

Hospitalizations reached yet another record-high of 1,049, with a record 311 of those patients in the ICU.

Also Friday morning, the U.S. military deployed 60 medical personnel to El Paso’s overflowing hospitals to help treat patients.

For a complete look at El Paso's Covid-19 data, click here.

Surging cases and hospitalizations — and now El Paso’s death toll is rapidly rising:

• 18 deaths (40 in two days)
• 1,300 new cases
• 23,702 active cases (record)
• 1,049 hospitalized (record)
• 311 in ICU (T-record)
• 24.24% avg. + rate (record)https://t.co/X8W2nhOUae pic.twitter.com/RS5X1hqOkb

— Erik Elken KVIA ABC-7 (@ErikElkenKVIA) November 6, 2020