Serving the High Plains

Six COVID-19 cases reported in Quay on Sunday

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.

Another case was reported Monday. It was a male age 20 to 29 in the Tucumcari ZIP code.

The numbers by ZIP code since the pandemic began is 68 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 113. The county has seen 20 cases in less than two weeks.

According the state’s COVID-19 rapid-response database, three confirmed cases were reported at Eastern Plains Head Start 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 Monday, 877 cases were reported in New Mexico, with 10 deaths. Bernalillo County totaled 245 cases that day, and Dona Ana County totaled 220. 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 382 people are hospitalized with COVID-19. As of Monday, 74% of general beds and 69% of ICU beds across New Mexico hospitals are occupied. This includes patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and other illnesses.

In Amarillo, over 4,300 active cases of coronavirus were reported as of Monday. The Amarillo area’s hospitalization rate stood at 28%.

In the U.S., more than 9.2 million people have been confirmed with the virus, with more than 231,000 deaths as of Monday.