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HOUSTON, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. southern border city of El Paso  on Thursday reported 29 new deaths from COVID-19, the largest increase to date, according to official data.

The El Paso COVID-19 dashboard reported that the deaths did not occur on the same day, but between the first week of October and the first week of November. According to local media, the previous high of deaths reported was 24 on Aug. 14.

As of Thursday, COVID-19 death toll reached 725 in El Paso, a small city with a population of less than 840,000 in the state of Texas.

El Paso's COVID-19 dashboard also showed 976 new infections on Thursday, bringing its reported case total to 68,804.

In recent weeks, COVID-19 cases in El Paso kept skyrocketing. Local media reported that hospitals are near or at capacity.

In an effort to curb the spread of the virus, local officials announced Wednesday the extension of business shutdown until Dec. 1. Late last month, El Paso authorities asked all nonessential businesses to be closed for two weeks until Nov. 12.