EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — COVID-19 is but to peak within the borderlands, and native officers are specializing in urgent challenges like discouraging Mom’s Day gatherings that might increase the unfold of the virus.

However as they emphasize social distancing and stepped-up testing, El Paso County officers are working behind the scenes on a long-term plan to drastically change the best way authorities workers work together with one another and the general public.

“We now have to get into a special type of mindset,” stated Nicole Ruiz, public coverage analyst for county authorities. “We now have to reshape the longer term to guard the well being of our workers once we do return to work.”

That features not simply encouraging clear desks, frequent handwashing and social distancing, however in the end redesigning work areas, permitting some workers to proceed working from dwelling and the fostering of latest habits.

“For instance, it’s not simply conserving 6 ft away from different workers; we’re recommending that as an alternative of strolling to a different workplace to ask a query, ship an e mail or make a cellphone name,” Ruiz stated Monday at a briefing of the El Paso County Commissioners Courtroom.

And whereas working remotely turned a necessity after metropolis and county issued stay-at-home orders, it may turn out to be a long-term alternative to unencumber the workplace area to allow correct social distancing for these whose bodily presence is required, she stated.

Each County Choose Ricardo Samaniego and Commissioner Precinct Four Carl Robinson are suggesting inserting shields at cashier’s home windows to guard each the shopper in addition to the worker. Some are already getting used. “Shields appear to be non-intrusive. If that defend by no means got here down, we might perceive,” Samaniego stated.

Different actions within the strategy planning stage embrace the acquisition of an satisfactory provide of masks and thermometers and the crafting of an “early warning” system that may enable the county choose to make fast, knowledgeable selections to shut departments or buildings ought to COVID-19 return or a brand new well being emergency surfaces.

El Paso Metropolis-County Well being Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza stated the latter is a risk that can not be ignored.

“We proceed to see an increase within the numbers; this pandemic could be very dynamic in the best way it behaves,” Ocaranza instructed the Commissioners Courtroom. “As soon as we begin seeing a decline we nonetheless must watch out with the best way we observe social distancing. […] This coming winter is flu season and persons are vulnerable. We will’t let our guard down.”

El Paso as of Sunday had confirmed 998 circumstances of COVID-19 and recorded 22 fatalities. Close by Juarez, Mexico has had 400 circumstances and 80 deaths.

“We now have a troublesome state of affairs forward,” Samaniego stated. “We now have Mom’s Day and graduations developing. […] Social gatherings is likely one of the most troublesome issues we’re going to face. For those who have a look at the numbers, We had Easter after which improve in deaths and so forth, so we’re going to ask you to remain dwelling.”

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