Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Quay County will remain in the turquoise zone for COVID-19 risk for the next few weeks, according to state officials during a health briefing Wednesday afternoon.
All New Mexico counties landed in the turquoise zone, thanks to a new public order by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Quay County would have met the criteria regardless after a sharp downtown in cases during the second half of May.
Quay County’s case rate from May 18 to May 31 was 5.1 daily cases per 100,000 people, well under the benchmark of 10 cases per 100,000. Its test positivity rate was 3.92%, also was well under the benchmark of 7.5%.
The county’s full vaccination rate was only 36.1%, below the goal of 50%. Quay County would have needed to meet only two of the three criteria to stay in turquoise.
The county’s newest numbers were a far cry from the previous two-week period. From May 3 to May 17, Quay County saw a case rate of 40.8 per 100,000 people and a case positivity rate of 13.6%. Its full vaccination rate was 34.3%, below the standard of 45%. The county saw more than 90 cases of COVID-19 after mid-April.
Because its previous rating landed in the turquoise, Quay County avoided a downgrade in mid-May. Otherwise, the county would have been in the red zone, with more regulations for businesses.
With the governor’s all-turquoise order, it kept several neighboring counties from landing in the yellow zone. Roosevelt, Harding, De Baca and Guadalupe counties missed one or both of the daily case rate or positivity-rate benchmarks.
When asked about the order to designate all New Mexico counties as turquoise, Human Services Secretary David Scrase said “I think we’re giving the economy every chance to regrow” after the pandemic.
Health Secretary Tracie Collins added: “To be clear, the goal is to open up” the economy.
About 56% of New Mexico is fully vaccinated against the disease. Once the state hits 60%, the red-to-turquoise limitations will be lifted two weeks afterward to ensure those newly vaccinated attain immunity.