March 13, 2020 • EPE Related News
El Paso coronavirus preparations: Here are the latest updates on COVID-19
El Paso Times: Updated Daily
El Paso coronavirus preparations: Here are the latest updates on COVID-19
As the coronavirus continues to spread across the state and country, the El Paso Times wants to keep readers updated on the latest news in the community and Texas.
Here's what to know about COVID-19.
Here's the latest on what's happening in El Paso:
El Paso Electric: Contingency plans in place to deal with virus impact
5:56 p.m. March 12: El Paso Electric does not anticipate on any interruptions to the company's regular course of business, interim CEO Adrian Rodriguez said.
"We want our customers to know that our dedicated and hardworking employees remain committed to providing safe and reliable energy as our region comes together to mitigate and reduce exposure to this virus," Rodriguez said. "We want to assure the public that we are ready to continue supporting our region’s energy needs and will make any necessary adjustments to our work and operations to do so."
The company is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines and recommendations on preventing the spread of the virus. Business hours will remain for call centers and payment locations. Customers are encouraged to visit epelectric.com for bill payment options or download the Bill2Pay app from Apple Store or Google Play.
If at any point, customers financially impacted by the virus have questions about assistance programs, they can call the Customer Care Team at 915-543- 5970 or 575-526-5555.
Rodriguez also warned of scammers and said customers should watch out for suspicious emails, phone calls or people impersonating employees or charities. Incidents can be reported to the Customer Care Team.
Coronavirus will not affect El Paso water, facility tours on hold
2:29 p.m. March 12: Water will stay safe from the coronavirus, according to El Paso Water. Through standard disinfection, treatment plants will be able to deal with any type of virus
"Guidance has been provided to EPWater employees to decrease the chances of spreading any kind of virus in the workplace, and we are increasing sanitary and disinfection measures at all facilities," an El Paso Water spokesman said in a news release.
However, all facility tours, non-essential meetings and trainings have been canceled. Employee travel has been restricted.
The Borderplex Alliance comments on COVID-19, travel ban
7:45 a.m. March 12: The Borderplex Alliance commented late Wednesday on news of a ban on travel to the U.S. from continental Europe.
"Overcoming this unique challenge will require swift bipartisan action in Washington and historic international cooperation," Jon Barela, CEO of the group, said in a statement. "I urge lawmakers, business leaders and citizens to heed the warnings of health care professionals and make rational, fact-based decisions from the best science available. In our interdependent world, I expect the economic fallout from this virus to reach every part of the country, including the Borderplex region.
Business sectors ranging from tourism to manufacturing can expect adverse consequences. The faster we all work together, the quicker we can contain this virus, save lives and keep the economy moving."
El Paso officials hold news conference for COVID-19 update
March 10: Officials held a news conference Tuesday where they said there are no active cases of coronavirus in the region, including in Juárez, where tests were returned negative. The city's health department at the time was in possession of 400 test kits for the virus.
They also cautioned against "knee-jerk" reactions and said precautions are being taken should the illness be detected in the region.
As of Tuesday, the county was not considering declaring a public health emergency, but County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said he could if he felt it was necessary.
Community members with concerns or questions can dial 211 for information.
Closures and cancellations in El Paso
Here are the latest updates on closures:
El Paso Spring Break activities suspended
7:55 a.m.: The city tweeted Friday morning that Spring Break activities that were previously scheduled have been postponed. This includes several events at city libraries, museum events and parks and recreation events.
Here's more information on the events that have been suspended until further notice:
Rage Against the Machine postpones El Paso, Las Cruces concerts
9:43 p.m. March 12: Rage Against the Machine's reunion in El Paso is being postponed. The band will have announced they are postponing the first part of their tour because of the coronavirus. They were set to perform March 26 at the Don Haskins Center.
City of El Paso suspends special programming
9:25 p.m. March 12: In a Thursday night tweet, the City of El Paso said that in the interest of public health all special programming at parks, libraries museums and other locations would be suspended until further notice.
EPISD suspends spring break by additional week
8 p.m. March 12: EPISD announced Thursday night it will extend spring break by an additional week in order to deep clean classrooms and buses. Spring break will run from March 16-27, with classes scheduled to resume March 30.
EPISD will provide meals students can pick up from March 23-27. It will announce the locations and times next week.
UTEP suspends all university-sponsored domestic and international travel
6 p.m. March 12: UTEP is suspending all university-sponsored international and domestic travel effective immediately, with the exception of travel to and from Ciudad Juárez.
Students, faculty and staff that decide to travel internationally for personal reasons must register their travel with UTEP's Department of Environmental Health and Safety, follow CDC guidelines and self-quarantine for 14 days upon return.
White Sands Missile Range open house canceled
3:18 p.m. March 12: The Trinity Site Open House scheduled for April 4 at White Sands Missile Range has been canceled because of coronavirus concerns.
WSMR Commander Col. David Trybula made the decision out of safety as more than 5,000 participants from the U.S. and overseas, along with employees and volunteers, were expected to be at the event. The CDC recommends canceling gatherings of 250 or more.
The next open house is scheduled for Oct. 3.
Minor League Baseball, El Paso Chihuahuas delaying season
2:59 p.m. March 12: Minor League Baseball, league of the El Paso Chihuahuas, will delay the regular season because of coronavirus.
No date was given but a spokesman on Twitter said that the league will continue to coordinate with Major League Baseball and begin the season when it is safe.
The announcement follows Major League Baseball's cancellation of Spring Training and delay of the regular season
YISD, Clint ISD suspends out-of-district travel
2:00 p.m. March 12: The Ysleta Independent School District has canceled out-of-town, non-essential district-related travel for students and staff until further notice.
All other school-related activities, contests and performances within El Paso County will continue as planned, YISD said.
The Clint Independent School District also canceled non-essential district travel.
El Paso Rhinos cancel remainder of 2019-2020 season
1:37 p.m. March 12: Western States Hockey League have canceled all remaining games of the 2019-2020 season, including the El Paso Rhinos' playoffs games March 13-15 and March 20-22.
The games will not be rescheduled.
UIL Basketball Tournament officially suspended
1:36 p.m. March 12: After already limiting audience, UIL officially suspended the remainder of its Boys State Basketball Tournament until further notice.
The suspension takes place at the end of the 3A session Thursday. Fans who purchased tickets for postponed games will get full refunds from the point of sale or school where they were purchased. Those who purchased All Tournament tickets will get full refunds.
“After much consultation with government and health officials, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the remainder of the UIL State Basketball Tournament,” UIL Executive Director Charles Breithaupt said in a news release. “Our number one priority remains the well-being of our student-athletes and spectators and we are taking every possible precaution to keep them safe.”
C-USA suspends all spring sports competitions
12:10 p.m. March 12: The league will suspend all spring sports competitions until further notice, including the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
This includes the UTEP softball team hosting the UAB for a three-game series and the tennis team hosting Chicago State on Monday.
“This decision was made with the safety of our fans, student-athletes, coaches and staff as the utmost priority,” UTEP Director of Athletics Jim Senter said in a news release. "We will monitor the situation in the coming weeks in consultation with Conference USA Leadership, the University Administration and each respective varsity sport team and make modifications as needed.”
No plans to close Texas Tech El Paso facilities
12:01 p.m. March 12: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, along with the Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso clinics and libraries will be closed Monday, March 16 for Spring holiday, but normal hours will resume Tuesday.
EPISD, SISD, Canutillo ISD suspend district-related travel
11:30 a.m. March 12: The El Paso Independent School District announced it is canceling all student and staff district-related travel "out of an abundance of caution." Any student groups currently out of town will be brought back to El Paso as soon as possible, EPISD said.
The Socorro Independent School District has also canceled all out-of-town student and employee travel until further notice.
The Canutillo Independent School District made the decision to cancel out-of-district travel Wednesday.
El Paso Locomotive league USL suspends all play
10:55 a.m. March 12: United Soccer League, which includes the El Paso Locomotive, announced that it will suspend all play a minimum of 30 days.
El Paso Locomotive will play all its games later this season, according to the team's Twitter page and will give updates shortly.
The team was set to play the Portland Timbers this Saturday.
UIL postpones academic state events
9:30 a.m. March 12: The UIL CX Debate State Tournament and the UIL State Robotics FIRST Tech Challenge have been postponed until further notice.
UTEP said Wednesday no plans to change schedule at this time
March 11, 5:45 p.m.: UTEP said Wednesday afternoon it is NOT changing the university schedule or shifting to online instruction at this time.
“We are prudently planning in the event that we have to change our operations,” UTEP President Heather Wilson said in a memo sent to faculty, staff and students. “If we have to change our operations for public health reasons, our goals will be to keep people healthy and complete the semester without disrupting the educational progress of our students.”
UTEP has organized remote teaching webinars for faculty beginning Thursday, according to an email the UTEP Office of the Provost sent faculty.
UTEP will be on spring break from March 16-20.
Dance conference canceled
March 10: The University of Texas at El Paso Department of Theatre and Dance canceled a dance conference scheduled for Thursday through Sunday because of the coronavirus.
The latest updates in Texas
Ted Cruz extends self-quarantine
8 a.m.: U.S. Sen Ted Cruz on Friday announced he's extending his self-quarantine to March 17 after learning he had an interaction with a second individual who tested positive for COVID-19.
Cruz said in a statement that on March 3 he met with Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spain's Vox Party, for about 20 minutes. Abascal has tested positive for coronavirus, according to the news release.
Cruz said he is not experiencing any symptoms and consulting with medical officials.
How many cases were there as of Thursday?
9:40 a.m. March 12: There are at least 23 cases of COVID-19 in Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz temporarily closes his capitol office
7:55 a.m. March 12: Amid reports a staffer from another Senate office tested positive for COVID-19, Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's office on Thursday morning announced his D.C. office would be temporarily closed "out of an abundance of caution."
Cruz's staff is equipped to work remotely, according to a statement from Cruz's press office. Cruz is on his self-quarantine following a brief interaction with a person who tested positive for COVID-19.
How many cases were there as of Wednesday?
March 11: As of Wednesday, there were at least 21 cases of COVID-19 in Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
According to Wednesday news reports, a Montgomery County man may have contracted the virus through community spread, not through travel.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday also urged Texans to take preventative measures against coronavirus.
"Actions like washing your hands with soap and water, staying home when you are sick, avoiding shaking hands, and covering a cough or sneeze may seem like simple tasks, but they can have a tremendous impact to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health," Abbott said in a statement. "We urge all Texans to adopt these preventative measures into their daily routines and to follow the guidance of their health care providers as well as state, federal, and local public health entities."
Lawmakers hold committee hearing on coronavirus
March 10: In a Texas House of Representatives committee hearing Tuesday, lawmakers heard invited testimony from a number of officials, including Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
"When I say that right now I don't see that need (to declare a disaster), I can't tell you tomorrow, it won't be a different circumstance," he told the panel of lawmakers.
Other House and Senate committees have canceled upcoming committee hearings as a precaution. Such hearings often include testimony from members of the public.
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