County Judge Ricardo Samaniego Issues 2 Week Shelter in Place Order Due to COVID-19 Healthcare Crisis

Judge Samaniego Issues Two-Week Countywide Shelter In Place Order Due to COVID-19 Healthcare Crisis

El Paso, Texas (October 29, 2020)– Today, El Paso County Judge Samaniego made the decision to issue a Shelter in Place Order due the surge in hospitalizations and positive COVID-19 cases in El Paso County. The County Judge’s order encompasses the County of El Paso which includes the the City of El Paso, the Town of Anthony, Town of Clint, Town of Horizon, City of San Elizario, City of Socorro, the Village of Vinton, as well as all unincorporated areas of the County.

“Based upon the advice and recommendation of medical professionals, as well as hospital CEO’s, effective at midnight tonight, I am ordering a shutdown of all non-essential services for a 2 week period,” said El Paso County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego. “Since the beginning of this pandemic, El Paso County has never seen this level of high infection rates of COVID-19 cases throughout our community. Our hospitals are at capacity, our medical professionals are overwhelmed and if we don’t respond we will see unprecedented levels of death. I am hopeful that the Governor will work with us and recognize that this is a short-term remedy that is needed to contain the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in our community.”

For context, El Paso County is currently at STAGE 1 of the COVID-19 Community Scorecard (source: http://www.epstrong.org/results.php) there are 14,359 active COVID-19 cases in El Paso County. El Paso County’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate is 44%. This is a 365.2% increase from the beginning of the month.

“I’d like to thank the County Commissioners Court, Congresswoman Escobar, our State Delegation, and the County Judges from the five largest counties in Texas for their support as we stand united to address this public health emergency,” said County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego.

To view the letter of support from the largest Counties across Texas click here.

To view the County’s Stay Home, Work Safe Order (County Order No. 13) click here. The Order includes the following measures:

All businesses that are non-essential must close:
Tattoo Parlors
Hair Salons
Nail Salons
Gyms
Massage businesses
In-person dining
All essential businesses remain open:
Polling Sites
Schools that provide meal services
Childcare facilities
Grocery stores
Funeral services
All healthcare offices and facilities
Pharmacies
Government operations
Post offices
Retail-to-Go Services-And others listed in Order

Countywide Curfew: A curfew is imposed for all citizens between the hours of 10:00p.m. and 5:00a.m. unless that person is out for an emergency or unless that person(s) is/are out performing or obtaining essential services.

For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence, in compliance with the SHELTER-AT-HOME and CURFEW, only to obtain or provide the following essential activities shall herein be defined as (“Essential Covered Services”) in the order.

Please note, that election activities are essential services and not affected by this Order. Election activities shall be considered an essential function and under no circumstances does this Order affect the voting or campaigning for candidates on the November 3, 2020 ballot. Election activities shall continue to follow Public Health Authority Orders and Guidelines relating to election activities.

El Paso Community leaders call upon El Pasoans to stay home as much as possible, practice social distancing, and if you must leave your home, and please wear a mask to protect yourself and others.

The County of El Paso Community Services Department has funds available to assist County families impacted financially by COVID-19. The funds available are for rent, mortgage, purchase of groceries and medicines and other forms of cash assistance.

If you live outside the City limits of El Paso and are in need of assistance please contact our County General Assistance Office at
915-546-8150 or apply online at www.epcounty.com/famcom

For rent assistance inside the City of El Paso, you can go to www.eprenthelp.org for assistance information.