Rapid response teams referred to Quay five times

New Mexico’s COVID-19 rapid-response teams this month were referred five times to Quay County to deal with cases at businesses and entities, most recently a travel center.

According to a database maintained by New Mexico Environment Department, teams were referred this month to coronavirus cases at Tucumcari EMS/Fire Rescue, City of Tucumcari, Community Homecare, Pacheco’s Trucking and Love’s Travel Center.

The database states the most recent case was at Love’s Travel Center, on Friday. One employee there tested positive for the disease.

Caitlin Campbell, media relations specialist at Love's, said in an email Monday: “Because of the team member’s limited exposure to the majority of the store and other employees, the location did not close, but was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. We have directed other employees who were in close contact with the team member to self-quarantine for 14 days or until medically cleared.

“In response to the pandemic, we have implemented and continue to follow numerous measures aimed at minimizing the spread of the virus, including vigorous and frequent cleaning/disinfecting protocols, changing our food and beverage options, practicing social distancing with each other and our customers, and requiring team members to wear face coverings.”

Campbell stated all Love's locations also would require masks to be worn by all customers starting Wednesday.

Pacheco’s Trucking safety manager Cody McGuire last week said it learned of its COVID-19 case on July 17.

McGuire said a worker's wife tested positive, and he tested positive a few days after being sent home. He said the worker showed no symptoms of the disease.

He said three other employees exposed to the worker were sent home immediately and told to stay there for seven to 10 days or when they received a negative test for the disease.

McGuire said Pacheco’s Trucking also was undergoing a “thorough” cleaning and disinfecting of the facility.

“We’ve taken every step possible” to deal with the case, he said.

A phone call to Community Homecare in Tucumcari was referred to its home office in Clovis. A woman answering the phone in Tucumcari said the facility had reopened. A message left to a supervisor in Clovis wasn’t returned.

Attempts to reach city officials for comment about cases there were unsuccessful.

According to the DOH database, the outbreaks at the city, Tucumcari EMS/Fire Rescue, Community Homecare, Pacheco’s Trucking and Love’s Travel Center were one employee each who was confirmed with the virus.

New Mexico Environmental Secretary James Kenney said during a briefing Thursday said his agency has made 800 rapid responses to the virus in eight weeks. He said many were in the food industry, which consists of restaurants, grocery stores and food manufacturers. He said the rise in COVID-positive employees in that sector had risen 15-fold in recent weeks.

Kenney said rapid response protocol includes temporary ceasing of business’ operations, testing and directing of self-quarantines of employees, retesting of employees seven to 10 days later, disinfection of the workplace and implementation of a safety plan.