Serving the High Plains

Five new COVID-19 cases reported

Only five cases of COVID-19 were reported last week in Quay County by the New Mexico Department of Health, extending a weeks-long low ebb of the disease.

The total number of confirmed cases in the county in the previous week was six.

The total number of cases in the county rose to 1,992 since the pandemic began in spring 2020.

According to state epidemiology reports, Quay County’s COVID-19 case rate remained at 11.1 new cases per 100,000 people from March 8 to March 21 — the same as the previous reporting period. The county’s test-positivity level fell to 3.4%.

The breakdown of COVID-19 cases by ZIP code in Quay County through Friday was 1,531 in Tucumcari, 279 in Logan, 94 in San Jon, 34 in House, 21 in McAlister, 18 in Bard and 14 in Nara Visa. All of the new cases were in Tucumcari.

No confirmed COVID-19 deaths were reported last week in the county. The death toll in Quay County remained at 49. A total of 41 deaths occurred since late May 2021.

A total of 1,913 people in Quay County were deemed by the state to have recovered from the virus.

In COVID-19 rapid responses in the county, ENMR Plateau Communications and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, both in Tucumcari, reported one case each on March 21 and March 23 respectively.

The state also continued to see a drop in its coronavirus caseloads. Only three of 33 counties in New Mexico — Cibola, Grant and neighboring Guadalupe — remained in the red zone. Most were in the orange or yellow zones for risk.

Cibola County saw the state’s worst rate of cases, at 24.3 per 100,000.

Socorro County had the lowest rate, at 2.5.

The state’s seven-day daily case rate rose to 151 by Friday, compared to 101 during the previous week.

Despite the increase, that state’s case rate still remained at a low level.

A total of 146 new cases of coronavirus were reported in New Mexico on Friday. That raised the total since the pandemic began to more than 517,000.

A total of 103 people were hospitalized in New Mexico with the disease Friday, a decrease of 10 from the previous week.

Nine COVID-19 deaths were reported in the state Friday, raising the total to 7,206.

The total number of active cases in the Amarillo metro region remained stable Friday to 301, roughly matching its previous low last summer.

The disease has killed 1,201 people in the Amarillo metro since the pandemic began.

In the U.S., more than 79.9 million people have been confirmed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with more than 976,000 deaths, through Saturday.

According to state data through Friday, 53.5% of Quay County residents have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus. That was an increase of 0.2%.

About 60.7% of county residents have received one shot of COVID-19 vaccine through Friday. That number did not change.

In New Mexico, 77.6% of eligible residents had been fully vaccinated by Friday, with 91% receiving at least one dose of vaccine.

Residents can schedule vaccinations through the state’s registration portal at VaccineNM.org.

The Department of Health’s vaccination helpline is available at 855-600-3453, option 3.

 
 
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