Health care worker Mary Carreon administers a COVID-19 vaccine to an elderly patient in Laredo on Feb. 1.
During an emergency city council meeting last week, Laredo officials passed a motion to request that the federal government send National Guard troops to help distribute vaccines.
Treviรฑo, the Laredo health authority, has repeatedly argued against stricter measures because of the economic damage they can cause.
Martinez, the city council member, said many residents live paycheck-to-paycheck and donโt have savings to help them survive a city lockdown.
โThe little carnita asadas, the barbecues โ as a result, we have high numbers of infections, and so one begets the other.โRichard Chamberlain, the cityโs health director, said the best way out of the cityโs COVID-19 crisis is through vaccinations.