Last week's COVID-19 margin less comfortable than usual

Quay County stayed in the turquoise zone during the latest two-week COVID-19 risk assessment announced Wednesday, but by a much less comfortable margin.

The county recorded 6.8 daily cases per 100,000 people during the April 6 to April 19 period, compared to 2.6 daily cases during the previous two-week period. The maximum allowed is 8 daily cases per 100,000 people.

Quay County’s test positivity rate also rose to 4.32% during the latest assessment, compared to 2.31% during the previous one. The maximum benchmark allowed is 5%.

It marked the second straight period that coronavirus case numbers in the county had risen.

This time, Quay County’s numbers were affected by a recent apparent outbreak of COVID-19 in the Logan ZIP code that prompted its school district to close its campus April 15 and keep its high school in remote learning until early May. More than 10 cases had been reported in Logan in about a week.

Surrounding counties were in the green or turquoise except for sparsely populated Harding, which backslid into the yellow zone after one reported case there last week.

Over 50% of New Mexico’s counties are in the green or turquoise zone. The only county in the red was Colfax.

However, nine counties regressed during the latest assessment period, which Human Services Secretary David Scrase said was disappointing.

Scrase also said during a briefing Wednesday that state officials are reconsidering the red-to-green risk criteria. He said test-positivity and average daily cases benchmarks likely would be adjusted after consulting with the mayors council and the state’s economic development council.

Scrase also said counties in the turquoise zone also likely would be in it for a longer period than the current two weeks.

Scrase for weeks has said the COVID-19 risk assessments would be adjusted because of vaccination rates lowering testing numbers.

Scrase also said he anticipated the entire state would be in the green or turquoise zone by the end of May “at the latest.”

The next assessment will be announced May 5.

Here are the health restrictions for counties in the turquoise zone, including Quay:

• Essential businesses (non-retail): No capacity restrictions but operations must be limited to only those absolutely necessary to carry out essential functions;

• Essential retail spaces: 75% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor);

• Food and drink establishments (if NM Safe Certified): 75% of maximum capacity for indoor dining; 75% of maximum capacity for outdoor dining;

• Close-contact businesses: 75% of maximum capacity; no restrictions on outdoor spaces;

• Large entertainment venues: 33% of maximum capacity for any indoor/enclosed space on premises; 75% of any outdoor space on premises;

• Recreational facilities: 50% of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on the premises; 75% of any outdoor space on premises;

• Bars and clubs: 33% of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on premises; 75% of any outdoor space on premises, where applicable;

• All other businesses: 75% of maximum capacity indoors; no restrictions on outdoor spaces;

• Churches: May hold religious services, indoors or outdoors, or provide services through audiovisual means, but may not exceed 75% of the maximum capacity of any enclosed space on the premises;

• Places of lodging: No maximum occupancy restrictions for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 50% of maximum occupancy for all others; 15 guests maximum for vacation rentals;

• Mass gatherings limit: 150 persons, or 200 vehicles.