May 31, 2021

COVID-19 Update: This Week’s Numbers

Greetings. Today marks the second Memorial Day of the pandemic. On May 31, 2020 El Paso stood with the rest of the world on the brink of disaster. On that day El Paso had seen 80 deaths. The country had had 105,770 deaths and the world 372,035. In that one year period our city has seen 2,537 more deaths… the country 488,667, the world 3,171,276. Today, we pause for a moment to open our hearts to and to remember all those who have lost and been lost.

Like climbing a mountain, a year ago we were on the ascent with a long way to go. Today, thankfully, we seem to be on the other side and nearly home. Here are the numbers.

El Paso Data

Average Daily New Cases: 32 (62 one week ago and 84 two weeks ago)

Average Daily Hospitalized Patients: 81 (85 one week ago and 111 two weeks ago)—(5% of Total Beds / 14% of Available Beds)

Average Daily ICU Patients: 28 (30 one week ago and 37 two weeks ago)—(12% of Total Beds / 37% of Available Beds)

Known Active Cases: 911 (1,217 one week and 1,509 two weeks ago)

Weekly Mortality

El Paso: 13 (10 last week)

Texas: 291 (349 last week)

US: 4,544 (3,459 last week)

Global: 78,073 (75,056 last week)

At this time, we continue to advise shelter-at-home until you and your contacts are vaccinated

For the 6 out of the past 10 weeks, US average daily cases have decreased, this week by 39% to 20,055 (from 25,318 the previous two weeks).

This past week El Paso has seen a modest improvement in hospitalizations and a larger improvement in cases. This week the average number of hospitalized patients in El Paso decreased 4% (31% decrease last week). Average ICU patients decreased 6% (23% decrease last week). Overall hospitalizations have improved 16 out of the past 18 weeks. Daily cases have decreased 13 out of the past 17 weeks with a 49% decrease this week (26% decrease last week).

Our current risk of COVID-19 infection and spread remains high with an estimated 113,000 who have neither had COVID-19 nor been vaccinated. There remain nearly 160,000 eligible adults who have not been vaccinated.

The authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children (and Moderna soon to follow), should offer additional protection from ongoing spread. As a public good (and duty), please do not relax your efforts until we are truly safe and you and those you associate with are vaccinated. Full immunity does not develop until after the second dose of the two shot vaccines (1 week after Pfizer and 2 weeks after Moderna) and you can still catch and transmit COVID-19. With Janssen, immunity begins 2 weeks after the single shot.

COVID-19 Update: Vaccination

This week we continue to watch data with regards to vaccinating children. Over the next week or two the Moderna vaccine is expected to be authorized for children 12 to 17. Authorization for children 6 months to 11 years is possible before the end of the June.

In the US children make up nearly 30% of the population and 14% of US COVID-19 cases have been in children (3.9 million). About 5 million adolescents age 12 to 15 have received the Pfizer vaccination. So far there have been no significant adverse reactions from either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in children. There have been a number of issues reported after children have received either vaccine but these conditions appear to occur at about the rate they occur in the general population. This is similar to the rare blood clotting disorders observed in young women with the Janssen vaccine. At this time the risk versus benefit clearly favors vaccination for children and vaccination against COVID-19 is fully endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Remember, the Pfizer vaccine in children 12 to 15 years old has shown 100% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Please consider having your children vaccinated, especially before the next school year begins.

This week worldwide COVID-19 vaccinations reached 1.9 billion doses (1.7 billion last week). US vaccinations stand at 295 million (288 million last week). The US is currently 8th best per capita and 2nd best in the total number of vaccinations given. China has now administered 639 million doses. About 135 million or 41% of Americans are fully vaccinated (40% last week).

Worldwide
1.9 Billion Doses = 5.5% Fully Vaccinated

7.8 Billion Population

The US remains second in total vaccinations.

US
295 Million Doses = 41% Fully Vaccinated

328 Million Population

El Paso continues to make progress toward our threshold for herd immunity of 70 to 90%. This week an additional 18,880 in El Paso received their first dose and 19,254 their second. As of today 475,784 (456,904 last week) have received at least one dose and 377,991 (358,737 last week) have received both. (Our population 16 and older is 640,180). This means 45% of our population is fully vaccinated. If we add to this an estimated 349,000 infections, our estimated combined immunity is 727,00 or 87% (infections + fully immunized—84% last week). Approximately 113,000 El Paso residents remain at risk (not vaccinated or infected) and nearly 160,000 eligible people have not been vaccinated.

If you have the chance to be vaccinated, please take it. In Texas all people age 12 and older are eligible for vaccination. Remember, so far these vaccines appear to prevent nearly 100% of hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19. To reiterate, these vaccines are both extremely safe and extremely effective. Use of the Janssen vaccine has been cleared by the FDA, including for premenopausal women. The six widely publicized cases of rare blood clots among 7 million vaccine recipients turns out to be near the incidence of this disorder in the general population.

Please get vaccinated as soon as possible, if not for yourself, for the good of others.

Vaccination Links:

Text or call myWELLNESS® at (915) 845-5700

University Medical Center

Immunize El Paso

City of El Paso Department of Public Health

UTEP (Students and Employees)

VA Patients