Confirmed COVID-19 cases up in Quay

Quay County saw an uptick in confirmed coronavirus cases last week but no COVID-19 deaths for the first time since September.

Twenty-four cases were reported in the county last week, including four on Friday, by the New Mexico Department of Health, compared to 17 in each of the previous two weeks.

The total number in the county since the pandemic began rose to 1,036.

No confirmed COVID-19 deaths were reported in the county, keeping the total at 23 since the pandemic began last spring. Deaths in Quay County had been reported weekly since mid-September. Thirteen COVID-19 deaths, or more than half of the total, had been reported in Quay County since late May.

Last week’s cases were reported in the Tucumcari and Logan ZIP codes.

The breakdown of COVID-19 cases by ZIP code in Quay County through Friday was 782 in Tucumcari, 163 in Logan, 45 in San Jon, 14 in House, 10 in McAlister, 10 in Bard, nine in Nara Visa, and five in Grady in the part that extends into the county.

A total of 902 people in the county were deemed by the DOH to have recovered from the virus.

These COVID-19 rapid responses were reported in the county last week:

• UPS Customer Center, Tucumcari, one case reported Oct. 25;

• La Quinta Inn, Tucumcari, one case reported Oct. 27;

• Income Support Division, Tucumcari, one case reported Oct. 28.

A typical rapid response consists of isolating positive cases, quarantining close contacts, ceasing operations to the extent necessary to isolate affected areas, disinfecting these areas, implementing safety procedures and resuming operations. Typically, operations are ceased for fewer than 24 hours before it is safe to reopen.

House Municipal Schools will continue with remote learning for a second straight week after at least three COVID-19 cases among staff or students were reported there last month.

In New Mexico, 1,055 new COVID-19 cases were reported Friday, bringing the overall total to more than 275,000 since the pandemic began.

Ten COVID-19 deaths were reported in the state Friday, raising the total to 5,049.

The state’s epidemiologist, Christine Ross, said during a health briefing Wednesday the state had settled into an “uncomfortable plateau” of COVID-19 cases that continue to strain the state’s healthcare systems.

She said caseload trends are “worrisome” in the northwest and southwest areas of the state. She said caseloads in the northeast and southeast are problematic but trending downward.

Quay County’s case rate ranks in the middle of New Mexico counties, which all are seeing elevated numbers. The county previously had been among the 10 worst.

Health Secretary David Scrase the modeling team at Presbyterian Health Services predicts a higher number of hospitalizations in the next two weeks.

Scrase said he was unsure why New Mexico’s case rate remained high while other states are reporting declines. He theorized that counties with high vaccination rates, especially those received in early 2020, now are experiencing waning efficacy with the vaccines.

A total of 397 people were hospitalized in New Mexico with the disease Friday, an increase of 45 from the previous week.

The Amarillo metro region on Friday totaled 1,984 active cases of the disease, a decrease of about 180 from the previous week. The active-case count was about 300 earlier this summer.

The disease has killed 905 people in the Amarillo metro since the pandemic began.

In the U.S., more than 45.9 million people have been confirmed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with more than 745,000 deaths, through Friday.

According to state data Friday, 48.6% of Quay County residents have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus. That was an increase of 0.1% from the previous week.

About 53.7% of Quay County residents have received one shot of COVID-19 vaccine through Friday, an increase of 0.1% from the previous week.

In New Mexico, 72.4% of eligible residents had been fully vaccinated by Friday, with 82.1% receiving one dose of vaccine.

These groups are eligible for a Pfizer or Moderna booster shot at six months or longer after completion of their initial series of vaccinations:

• 65 years and older;

• 18 and older who live in long-term care settings;

• 18 and older who have underlying medical conditions;

• 18 and older who work or live in high-risk settings.

For New Mexicans who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, booster shots are recommended for those who are 18 and older and were vaccinated two or more months ago.

New Mexico residents are encouraged to schedule their primary and booster shots with their primary care physicians. They also can do so through the statewide COVID-19 vaccine registration system, vaccineNM.org.

Deputy Health Secretary Laura Parajon said vaccines for children age 5 and up are expected to be approved this month. Parents can sign up those children for vaccinations at the state’s portal at vaccineNM.org/kids.