On Friday, El Paso announced its first presumptive positive case of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Officials say a man in his 40s tested positive and was recovering at home under self-quarantine, after traveling to California. A second man tested positive on Sunday and is hospitalized.
El Paso County and the City of El Paso join the federal government and the states of Texas and New Mexico in declaring a state of emergency.
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo says making the declaration could allow the city to access more resources.
“One of the things that you get with the emergency declaration I’ve been informed is that we get more access to more tests, more testing kits, things like that. So, it just prepares us to take advantage of whatever federal or state resources are there for us,” said Margo.
Margo also encouraged businesses to keep receipts for any supplies purchased in relation to fighting the virus, should those costs eventually be reimbursed through government funds.