Serving the High Plains

Six coronavirus cases reported in Quay County

The New Mexico Department of Health on Sunday reported six new cases of coronavirus in Quay County, the largest increase since a similar number was reported Oct. 20.

Five of the cases were in the Tucumcari ZIP code, while the sixth was in McAlister.

Five women and one man were affected. The age breakdowns were three age 50 to 59, one age 30 to 39, one age 40 to 49 and one age 60 to 69, according to the DOH website.

The numbers by ZIP code since the pandemic began is 67 in Tucumcari, 36 in Logan, five in San Jon, three in McAlister and one in Grady.

The total number of people infected in Quay County reached 112. The county has seen 19 cases in less than two weeks.

According the state’s COVID-19 rapid-response database, three confirmed cases were reported at the Head Start facility at 210 W. Center St. in Tucumcari, one at TriCore Reference Laboratories at 301 E. Miel de Luna Ave. in Tucumcari, and one at Desert Inn in 2420 S. First St. in Tucumcari. All must undergo health-protection protocol before reopening.

On Sunday, 747 cases were reported in New Mexico, with eight deaths. Bernalillo County totaled 224 cases that day, and Dona Ana County totaled 111. The seven-day average in the state stood at 768, well above the gating criteria baseline of 168.

New Mexico exceeded 1,000 deaths from the virus last week.

A total of 365 people are hospitalized with COVID-19. As of Sunday, 77% of general beds and 65% of ICU beds across New Mexico hospitals are occupied. This includes patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and other illnesses.

In Amarillo, nearly 3,700 active cases are coronavirus were reported as of Friday. The Amarillo area’s hospitalization rate stood at over 27%.

In the U.S., more than 9.1 million people have been confirmed with the virus, with more than 230,000 deaths as of Sunday.