On Monday, Feb. 1, Pecos County saw the economy take a step in the right direction as restaurants, bars, and indoor facilities in the county are now able to hold up to 75 percent of their capacity according to the governor’s orders.

The capacity limitation was previously at 50 percent since the county went over the 30 active case threshold for a consistent period of time starting towards the end of October. Texas State Governor Greg Abbott later added a hospitalization rate stipulation in November when the pandemic caused a spike in active cases and hospitalizations.

Pecos County Judge Joe Shuster received the news unexpectedly early this past weekend after a week of expecting a need to place an attestation request in order to get to the 75 percent capacity limit.

The order from the governor was due to the fact that the county has had 30 or less active COVID-19 cases since Jan. 21 – marking 12 consecutive days under the 30 threshold. As well as hospitalization rate.

Hospitalizations are in line with active cases. Pecos County Memorial Hospital has had at least 15 percent of their beds open in that same period of time for non-COVID patients for elective surgeries and inpatient treatment for other illnesses or injuries.

The hospital must maintain that threshold in order to not put the 75 percent capacity at indoor facilities at risk.

As of Tuesday, Feb. 2, there are three suspected COVID-19 patients hospitalized – well below nine, the number the hospital needs to stay below.

There are six additional COVID-19 patients that are hospitalized statewide.

Two additional COVID-19 deaths accounted for in past week, moves death toll to 31

Over the past week, two additional COVID-19 deaths were reported – increasing the virus’ death toll to 31 since the start of the pandemic.

One of those patients – an 87-year-old male who was hospitalized originally at PCMH on Jan. 12 – passed away in El Paso on Jan. 31.

The report of the death comes three days after a COVID-19 related death was reported of a 66-year-old male, who passed away on Jan. 20 at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa.

The two deaths bumps the death total in Pecos County in 2021 to three people.

FSISD has 3 active student cases

The Fort Stockton Independent School District has three students that are currently active COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday, Feb. 3.

The number is an increase from one active student case the past two weeks.

The three students attend three different campuses: high school, middle school, Apache Elementary.

The high school student is on the high school girls basketball team. All her teammates were tested and came back negative for COVID-19.

There are no active teacher cases currently after two weeks of having one active teacher case the past two weeks.