COVID-19 reported with Tucumcari Elementary staff member

A Tucumcari Elementary School staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the state's Public Education Department and rapid-response team database.

The state's Department of Education reported Monday the afflicted staff member hadn't been on school grounds since Sept. 30. All staff members, parents and guardians of students have been notified, the PED stated.

The state's COVID-19 rapid-response team database, which tracks businesses and entities that report cases, identified a case Monday at Tucumcari Elementary School. No other school districts in Quay County have reported such a case in recent days.

The PED stated all “close contacts” of the case will be instructed to quarantine for 14 days. Affected classrooms and facilities will be cleaned and disinfected.

Staff must be tested if symptomatic or in close contact. Staff members, however, will not be required to present a negative test result to return to work. Symptomatic staff may return to work after 10 days, plus 24 hours, after the fever is gone and COVID-19 symptoms have improved. Asymptomatic staff who have been close contacts may return to work after a 14-day quarantine.

Tucumcari Public Schools superintendent Aaron McKinney, citing privacy laws, said Monday he couldn't reveal how many employees must quarantine themselves, but he said school operations have not shut down.

Seventeen cases were reported Monday in New Mexico public schools, according to the PED.

The latest COVID-19 case in Quay County, reported Monday, was a man age 60 to 69 in the Tucumcari ZIP code, according to the state's Department of Health.

Another case was reported Saturday in a woman age 20 to 29 in Tucumcari.