The number of confirmed COVID-19 in Central El Paso’s 79903 ZIP code doubled in the past week, giving the area the second highest infection rate in the county, an El Paso Matters analysis shows.

The area around Loretto Academy, Chelmont and Five Points had 18 cases on April 22 and that had increased to 35 on Wednesday, according to El Paso Department of Public Health records.

The 79903 ZIP code has an infection rate of 19.6 cases per 10,000 residents. That’s second only to 31.4 cases per 10,000 in Tornillo in the rural Lower Valley. El Paso Matters has previously reported on the Tornillo outbreak.

79905, which is adjacent to 79903 in Central El Paso, has the third-highest infection rate in the county at 18.8 cases per 10,000 residents, the analysis shows.

Hover over a ZIP code on this map for more details on number of cases and infection rates.

Cover photo: Loretto Chapel is a landmark in Central El Paso’s 79903 ZIP code. (Photo by George Barnett)