March 23, 2021

COVID-19 Update

Greetings. Here are the weekly numbers. This past week the US has seen a 19% decrease in average daily cases (currently 54,832 per day) versus the previous two weeks (compared with a 14% decrease last week). In El Paso the difference has been modest with 206 average daily cases this week compared with 223 last week (8% decrease).

Worldwide COVID-19 vaccinations are now at 359 million doses (319 million last week). In the US vaccinations have reached 107 million (94 million last week). The US is currently 5th best per capita with Chile moving into 4th. This equates to 4.6% of the world population and 32% of the US population. About 10% of Americans are fully vaccinated. To clarify, following per capita vaccinations is a method of comparing vaccination efforts in different places. However, it includes all doses given and does not represent the proportion of fully immunized people.

The US continues to lead in total vaccinations.

El Paso continues to make progress toward our threshold for herd immunity (between 100,000 and 200,000 vaccinated). As of today 180,516 (157,195 last week) have received at least one dose and 103,179 (93,234 last week) have received both. (Our population 16 and older is 640,180).

There has still been no information from the State of Texas as to our vaccine allotment and we currently have requests submitted for all three brands. Just like individuals, vaccination sites have to submit new requests every week for vaccinations, which is frustrating. As before, please get vaccinated as soon as possible wherever you can. Most sites do not allow registration except during specific small windows but check back often. Nearly all sites run out of vaccine reservations within minutes of opening registration. Please try to register early on a regular basis. Vaccine availability changes often as new shipments arrive. Be persistent and check all avenues regularly. Those who have been able to receive the vaccine have done so through persistence (and some luck).

Vaccination Links:

University Medical Center

Immunize El Paso

City of El Paso Department of Public Health

Albertsons

Walmart

CVS

Walgreens

UTEP (Students and Employees)

VA Patients

El Paso Times COVID-19 Vaccination Guide

myWELLNESS® COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Military Retirees / Active Duty: WBAMC call (915) 742-2915

Remember, so far these vaccines appear to prevent nearly 100% of hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19. To reiterate, we feel these vaccines are safe and extremely effective. Please get vaccinated as soon as possible, if not for yourself, for the good of others. Here are our current numbers.

Average Daily New Cases: 206 (223 one week ago and 316 two weeks ago)

Average Daily Hospitalized Patients: 249 (285 one week ago and 345 two weeks ago)—(16% of Total Beds / 44% of Available Beds)

Average Daily ICU Patients: 100 (115 one week ago and 133 two weeks ago)—(43% of Total Beds / 130% of Available Beds)

Known Active Cases: 3,698 (4,101 one week and 6,044 two weeks ago)

At this time, we continue to advise shelter-at-home. Numbers remain similar to July, 2020 peak and early October, 2020.

This week there has been a 8% decrease in average daily new cases (42% decrease last week). The average number of hospitalized patients has decreased 14% (21% decrease last week). Average ICU patients have decreased 15% (15% decrease last week). Overall hospitalizations have improved six out of the past seven weeks. Daily cases have decreased five out of the past six weeks.

Despite this improvement our current risk is similar to the July, 2020 peak and early October, 2020. Please do not relax your efforts until we are truly safe and you and those you associate with are vaccinated. We continue to have families become infected after older family members received their first vaccine dose. Remember you are not immune until after the second dose (1 week after Pfizer and 2 weeks after Moderna and Janssen) and you can still catch and transmit COVID-19.

As before, with the City’s new reporting criteria, the number of active cases is much lower. As of today, with 3,698 active cases, 1 in 227 people in El Paso is known to be actively infected. Again, estimates are that 5 to 10 times this number may be infected, making it possible that up to 1 in 20 to 45 are infected. If 20,000 to 40,000 people are currently infected, there continues to be a danger of ongoing accelerated spread.

To reiterate, the primary risk of exposure is being indoors with others. Remember, this virus is airborne and can linger for 6 hours in the air. At this time all indoor public spaces should be assumed to be contaminated. If you gather with others at home, the air in your home very likely contains viral particles.

Similarly, anyone you come in contact with at this time should be considered contagious. We urge you to stay home and avoid having anyone visit you in person if possible. If you do have to go out or if someone has to visit, be sure to wear an N95 or KN95 mask (click the link below for an example). Remember, regular masks protect others more than the wearer and only work if everyone wears them (and keeps them on). Another helpful measure is having a home or office HEPA filter (see the link below). These filters can help remove droplets that contain airborne COVID-19 particles and offer another layer of protection. If you haven’t, please consider ordering a home COVID-19 test kit as well (see link below). As always, notify us immediately if you are exposed or have symptoms.

Wishing you good health,

CG Escandon, MD

Douglas Payne, MD

Links:

KN95 masks: (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089P1RC2K/ref=dp_prsubs_1)

Home COVID-19 test kits: (https://www.pixel.labcorp.com)

Medical grade HEPA filter: (https://medifyair.com)

COVID-19 Information

For the week of 3/15/2021

Assumptions:

• Mortality rate between 0.5% and 1.5% — using 0.75%

• This means 1 death for every 133 infections

• For March 14 — 2,254 total deaths = 300,000 total cases

• 46% or 540,000 El Pasoans have not been infected yet

• The number of deaths lags behind the number of infections by 2-4 weeks

• We estimate the current infection rate to be higher than stated as of March 14th

Assumptions:

Staffed Hospital Beds: 1754

Available Hospital Beds: 572 (1/3 of total)

Staffed ICU Beds: 234

Available ICU Beds: 77 (1/3 of total)

December 29, 2020

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Good morning. Some quick tips as we head into the New Year break. In the last vaccine newsletter we published a list of providers that had been approved to receive the Moderna vaccine. We have heard some patients were able to get appointments. Please try these and let us know if you are successful.

Mountain West Family Medicine (915) 584-8124
Immunize El Paso East (915) 857-2474
Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso Transmountain (915) 215-8400
El Paso Pulmonary Association (915) 532-2477
Family Medicine Associates of El Paso (915) 594-1033
EP Family Doctor (915) 855-7000
Dr Lipanova (915) 751-5245
Dr Calianga (915) 592-6868

University Medical Center West and other UMC sites will continue vaccinating patients with risk factors. This includes those 75 and older or 18 and older with chronic illness (diabetes, obesity, asthma, immunodeficiency, etc). Please call for appointments or to be put on the waiting list (915) 544-1200 or (915) 975-8900.

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health will roll out vaccine for additional groups over the next few weeks. You can follow the status here:
http://epstrong.org/vaccine.php.

Please get vaccinated as soon as you can!


CG Escandon, MD
Douglas Payne, MD

COVID 19 Testing:

We recommend patients obtain a home test kit from LabCorp.

This is a home nasal swab kit and is the same type as the City of El Paso’s test.

It is covered by insurance and there should be no cost.

Go to:

https://www.pixel.labcorp.com

Local testing has been expanded and is now available to anyone with or without symptoms.

Some patients have been turned away without a doctor’s order—call us if this happens and we will text or email one.

(Testing policy changes frequently so check EPStrong website often)

http://epstrong.org/testing.php

All via drive through testing. There is no cost.

Call (915) 212-0783 for information

or

WWW.TXCOVIDTEST.ORG or by calling 512-883-2400

Again, please do not leave your home unless you absolutely have to

How to deal with leaving the house or receiving a delivery:

Treat your home as a “clean room” = Don’t let germs enter

Going out

• Wear clothes that can be washed in hot water—preferably with bleach

• Wear a mask (N95 if you can)—Casa Medical (915-833-2272) has them

• Carry hand sanitizer and use if often—especially after touching something

• Do not touch your face

• Wipe down anything you touch in your vehicle

Returning

• Create a “contaminated space” in your garage or entry area

• Remove shoes and clothing in the contaminated space

• Take clothes immediately to washing machine and start cycle

• Shower before moving about the house

Deliveries

• Keep at least 6 feet distance from person making delivery

• Wipe down all items before bringing inside

• If non-perishable items can be left for a time without touching, this will decontaminate

  • Paper or cardboard 48 hours

  • Plastic, glass or metal (hard surfaces) 72 hours

  • Leave items that can handle the sun in direct sunlight for 15 minutes per side

• Wash your hands, clothes and shower as above

  • Remember this includes mail and packages—try to let them sit for 2-3 days before opening