El Paso County reported 175 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the week’s total through five days to 644. That’s the highest weekly number ever for El Paso.

El Paso, which had never previously had a week with more than 600 cases, in on pace to approach 900 this week. That would be a 50 percent increase over the previous high.

Three more COVID-19 deaths were reported Thursday, bringing El Paso’s total to 125. The number of people hospitalized is increasing.

Robert Moore is the founder and CEO of El Paso Matters. He has been a journalist in the Texas Borderlands since 1986.