Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
A growing number of confirmed coronavirus cases were reported in Quay County and New Mexico last week — signs the pandemic isn’t over.
Seven confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in Quay County last week. That compares to three the previous week. The region went for two straight weeks without any cases in early May.
The total number of cases in the county since the pandemic began in spring 2020 rose to 2,013.
The breakdown of COVID-19 cases by ZIP code in Quay County through Friday was 1,548 in Tucumcari, 282 in Logan, 94 in San Jon, 34 in House, 21 in McAlister, 18 in Bard and 14 in Nara Visa. Most of the new cases were in Tucumcari or Logan.
One more confirmed COVID-19 death in Quay County was reported last week. The county’s death toll from the virus rose to 55 since the pandemic began more than two years ago. A total of 47 deaths have occurred in the county in the past year.
No COVID-19 rapid responses were reported in the county last week. None has been reported since late March.
A total of 637 new cases of coronavirus were reported Friday in New Mexico, two days after the state reported more than 1,000. That raised the total since the pandemic began to more than 529,000.
New Mexico’s seven-day daily case rate rose to 457 by Friday. The rate was 314 the previous Friday.
A total of 75 people were hospitalized in New Mexico with the disease Friday, an increase of 25 from the previous week.
Eleven COVID-19 deaths were reported in the state Friday, raising the total to more than 7,675.
In the Amarillo metro region, the total number of active cases also rose on Friday, to 142. That compares to 111 active cases the previous week.
The disease has killed 1,271 people in the Amarillo metro since the pandemic began.
In the U.S., more than 83.2 million people have been confirmed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with more than 1 million deaths, through Friday.
On Friday, the New Mexico Department of Health recommended that children age 5 to 11 who took the initial Pfizer vaccines receive a booster shot at least five months after their primary vaccinations.
This recommendation came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine for children.
Those who have contracted COVID-19 are advised to stay up-to-date with the recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Unvaccinated people or vaccinated people with breakthrough cases after their isolation period of 10 days and their symptoms have eased are eligible for vaccine.
New Mexico residents can schedule vaccinations through the state’s registration portal at VaccineNM.org.
Vaccine appointments can be scheduled at VaccineNM.org. The Department of Health’s vaccination helpline is available at 855-600-3453, option 3.