El Paso County recorded 41 COVID-19 deaths, 8,284 infections last week

The city of El Paso reported 41 new COVID-19 deaths last week, but city officials said those deaths occurred over the span of two months.

Fourteen occurred in December and 27 in January. All had underlying health conditions.

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The deceased were two men and two women in their 30s, six men and one woman in their 40s, four men in their 50s, five men and four women in their 60s, three men and two women in their 70s, six men and two women in their 80s and two men and two women in their 90s.

City officials said medical professionals were needed to determine if the deaths were COVID-19 related.

The death toll in El Paso since the pandemic began rose to 3,091 people.

City officials said 75% of the newly reported deaths were among people who were not fully vaccinated.

Ten of the deaths were breakthrough COVID-19 cases, meaning the patients had been vaccinated. The total number of breakthrough deaths is 102.

Another 4,980 new breakthrough COVID-19 cases were reported last week.

There also were 8,284 new COVID-19 cases reported last week, as well as 3,188 additional cases that were part of the delayed local results issued by the state to the city of El Paso’s Department of Public Health.

Health officials said 17,496 COVID-19 cases were reported to be active at the end of last week.

On Tuesday, 1,892 more COVID-19 cases were reported, bringing the total to 197,726. Four more deaths also were reported, raising the total to 3,136. Officials said there were 20,115 active cases, with 174,302 people having recovered. On Tuesday, 539 were hospitalized, including 148 in intensive care and 60 on ventilators.

As of Tuesday, there were 21,675 breakthrough cases reported, including 671 that required hospitalization, with 154 patients being placed in ICU and 62 on ventilators. Officials said there have been 102 breakthrough deaths.

Health officials urge continued vaccinations, social distancing and frequent hand-washing.

The database on EPStrong.org continues to be updated daily.

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Residents can order free, at-home COVID-19 test kits, county officials urge self-reporting

El Paso residents are now able to order free, at-home COVID-19 testing kits.

Residents are now able to order at-home testing kits from the federal government at CovidTests.gov. City and county officials welcome more means of testing, but are calling on residents to self-report their positive case after using an at-home kit.

El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said not reporting positive at-home tests can distort data.

"The mayor and I cannot work with not the right numbers," Samaniego said during a Jan. 12 news conference. Samaniego compared the unreported positive cases from at-home tests like playing basketball without a scoreboard.

"You don't know what to do if you're behind or if you're ahead," Samaniego said.

To self-report positive test results, call the self-reporting COVID-19 Positive Assistance Line at 915-212-6520. Residents can also fill out an electronic self-reporting form under the Testing tab on EPStrong.com.

The electronic form only requires basic information such as name, address and date of birth. Self-reporting forms will be received and managed by public health staff on the same day of submission.

City of El Paso expands hours at mega testing site

The city of El Paso is extending the hours of their COVID-19 mega testing sites from 4 to 6 p.m.

The following drive-thru testing sites will be open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday:

• University of Texas at El Paso, 3333 N. Mesa St. (Kern Drive)

• Nations Tobin Park, 8831 Railroad Drive.

• County Sports Park, 1780 N. Zaragoza Road.

The Don Haskins Recreation Center, 7400 High Ridge, will be open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

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Anthony Jackson may be reached at ADJackson@elpasotimes.com and @TonyAnjackson on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso County recorded 41 COVID deaths, 8,284 infections last week