New case reported in Quay

The New Mexico Department of Health announced last week a new case of COVID-19 had been reported in Quay County.

The case, reported by the agency May 12, was the fifth in the county during the pandemic and the first since April 23. One resident died last month from the disease.

The Department of Health does not identify the person who tested positive for the virus. An interactive map by the agency hadn't been updated with data from the latest case.

Previous cases in the county were two men and two women. Two were age 40-49, and the others were age 70-79.

A total of 294 people in Quay County had been tested for the virus as of Monday.

The Department of Health reported 165 additional cases and five more deaths Monday from COVID-19.

The total number of people in New Mexico carrying the virus stood at 6,096, with 270 deaths.

McKinley County in western New Mexico had the most cases, with 1,953 as of Monday. The northwestern part of the state has one of the worst outbreaks in the country.

A total of 213 people are hospitalized with the disease. A total of 1,796 have recovered.

East of Tucumcari, Amarillo reported more than 2,200 active cases of COVID-19 after the Amarillo Public Health Department’s last update Saturday. The total increased by more than 700 in one day last week, reflecting more testing in the region.

Another 400 cases have been reported in Moore County north of Amarillo.

In the U.S., more than 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported, with more than 90,000 deaths as of Monday afternoon.

MVDs reopen June 1

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced during a briefing Friday the state’s Motor Vehicle Division stations would partially reopen June 1.

She said they likely would be open by appointment only for in-person services that cannot be handled online.

Those in-person services include REAL IDs, services for senior citizens, driving tests and VIN inspections. MVD employees will be masked, and customers will be requested to wear them. Staffers also will disinfect vehicles after they use them.

Masks in courtrooms

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled last week anyone entering a courthouse or judicial building must wear a mask or face covering.

Courts were directed to provide masks to people who don’t have one if they needed to enter a court facility.

Judges have the discretion to remove their masks when speaking during a court hearing to ensure a clear record is kept of the proceeding.

SNAP increases

New Mexico households receiving food stamps again would receive the maximum amount for their household size for the month of May, the state’s Human Services Department announced Thursday.

In March and April, households hat were not already receiving the maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit amount for their household size received an increase to their benefits to bring them to the maximum.

Grady cancellations

Grady Municipal Schools had planned a drive-in graduation for its seniors Sunday, but those were canceled because of the state health restrictions.

The annual Grady Memorial Alumni Dinner scheduled for May 24 also was canceled because of the pandemic.

The dinner typically drew 200 people each year and had been held for decades.

Grady Municipal Schools is situated in Curry County, but part of the district spills into southern Quay County.