Texas County Imposes Curfew As Hospitals Fill Up With COVID Patients

Authorities in El Paso County, Texas, have put a curfew in place and are urging residents to stay home for the next two weeks as the number of coronavirus cases continues to soar. According to KTSM, there were 1,443 new cases reported by the City of El Paso Department of Health on Monday (October 26), bringing the total number of active cases in the county to 12,179.

The curfew will be in effect every night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Officials said the decision was made after a 160% surge in new COVID-19 cases and a 300% increase in hospitalizations since October 1. As of Saturday (October 24) night, hospitals and ICU beds in the county reached 100% capacity.

"The purpose of the curfew is to limit mobility in the community," El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said during a press conference. "Currently, our hospitals are stretched to capacity."

To deal with the influx of patients, health officials have constructed an auxiliary medical unit at the El Paso Convention Center, which will provide an additional 50 beds. If the number of hospitalized patients continues to increase, hospitals will be forced to airlift sick patients to other facilities in Texas.

Photo: Getty Images


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