Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Quay County have slowed to a trickle.
Only two cases of COVID-19 were reported last week in the county by the New Mexico Department of Health, continuing a weeks-long decline of the disease.
The total number of the county’s confirmed cases the previous week was five. The total number of cases rose to 1,994 since the pandemic began in spring 2020.
According to state epidemiology reports, Quay County’s COVID-19 case rate declined to at 6.8 new cases per 100,000 people from March 15 to March 28. That compares to 11.1 during the previous reporting period.
The breakdown of COVID-19 cases by ZIP code in Quay County through Friday was 1,533 in Tucumcari, 279 in Logan, 94 in San Jon, 34 in House, 21 in McAlister, 18 in Bard and 14 in Nara Visa. The two new cases were in Tucumcari.
One confirmed COVID-19 death was reported last week in the county. Its death toll to 50 since the pandemic began in early 2020. A total of 42 deaths have occurred since late May 2021.
The state deemed a total of 1,918 people in Quay County to be recovered from the virus.
No COVID-19 rapid responses were reported in the county last week.
The state overall continued to see a drop in coronavirus caseloads. Only two of 33 counties in New Mexico — Lincoln and neighboring Guadalupe — remained in the red zone for risk from the virus. Most were in the orange or yellow zones.
Guadalupe and Lincoln counties saw New Mexico’s worst rate of cases, both at 15.1 per 100,000. That is still far below the worst rates seen just weeks ago, with rates in some cases surpassing 100 per 100,000.
Neighboring Harding County had the lowest rate, at zero.
The state’s seven-day daily case rate plummeted to 72 by Friday, compared to 151 during the previous week.
A total of 93 new cases of coronavirus were reported in New Mexico on Friday. That raised the total since the pandemic began to almost 518,000.
A total of 76 people remained hospitalized in New Mexico with the disease Friday, a decrease of nearly 30 from the previous week.
Five COVID-19 deaths were reported in the state Friday, raising the total to 7,279.
The total number of active cases in the Amarillo metro region plummeted stable Friday to 125, compared to 301 the previous week.
The disease has killed 1,214 people in the Amarillo metro since the pandemic began.
In the U.S., more than 80.1 million people have been confirmed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with more than 980,000 deaths, through Friday.
The state’s Department of Health last week recommended a COVID-19 booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine for residents over age 50 or immunocompromised people age 12 and over if their previous booster shot occurred more than four months ago.
These recommendations aligned with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authorized a second booster dose of the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccines for those individuals.
“Vaccines and boosters are both safe and free. The data clearly demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses protect individuals from both infection and severe outcomes,” acting Health Secretary David R. Scrase stated in a news release. “Anyone eligible should seriously consider getting an additional mRNA booster to further increase their protection. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19, as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time.”
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.