County's COVID-19 cases keep rising

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Quay County continued to grow last week, and a website that tracks infection rates raised the region’s risk level for the disease.

New Mexico also saw sharp increases in case numbers and hospitalizations.

Nineteen confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in Quay County last week. That compares to seven the previous week.

Less than a month ago, the county went for two straight weeks without any cases reported.

The total number of cases in the county since the pandemic began in spring 2020 rose to 2,032.

The breakdown of COVID-19 cases by ZIP code in Quay County through Friday was 1,565 in Tucumcari, 282 in Logan, 96 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 San Jon.

The COVID Act Now website on Friday also raised Quay County from “low” to “medium” risk for the disease.

Two more confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Quay County were reported last week. The county’s death toll from the virus rose to 57 since the pandemic began more than two years ago. A total of 49 deaths 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.

Nearly 800 new cases of coronavirus were reported Friday in New Mexico. That raised the total since the pandemic began to more than 533,000.

New Mexico’s seven-day daily case rate rose to 647 by Friday. The rate was 457 the previous Friday.

A total of 113 people were hospitalized in New Mexico with the disease Friday, an increase of nearly 40 from the previous week.

Twenty-two COVID-19 deaths were reported in the state Friday, raising the total to more than 7,778.

In the Amarillo metro region, the total number of active cases also rose by Friday to 187. That compares to 142 active cases the previous week.

The disease has killed 1,273 people in the Amarillo metro since the pandemic began.

In the U.S., more than 83.9 million people have been confirmed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with more than 1 million deaths, through Saturday.

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.

The state’s Department of Health stated last week that COVID-19 treatments are available and can be obtained at many pharmacies, clinics and health systems across the state. These drugs are highly effective at preventing severe illness but must be taken within days of the first symptom to be most effective.

People at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness are most likely to benefit from treatment. People at high risk include being age 65 and older; obesity; having chronic medical conditions such as heart, lung, kidney disease or diabetes; being on treatment that suppresses your immune system; and pregnancy.

To find a full list of factors that may put someone at higher risk, visit this CDC site: https://tinyurl.com/3fdpypck.