Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
New COVID-19 cases in Quay County appeared to stabilize at a relatively low level for a second straight week.
A total of 10 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in the county last week — a slight increase from the eight cases recorded the previous week. Earlier in June, the county saw a one-week spike of 43 cases. Save for that one outlier, Quay County’s case numbers were in the low double-digits range.
The total number of coronavirus cases in the county since the pandemic began in spring 2020 rose to 2,093.
The breakdown of total COVID-19 cases by ZIP code in Quay County through Friday was 1,616 in Tucumcari, 291 in Logan, 96 in San Jon, 34 in House, 21 in McAlister, 18 in Bard and 14 in Nara Visa. All the new cases last week were in Tucumcari or Logan.
No confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Quay County were reported last week. The county’s death toll from the virus remained at 58 since the pandemic began more than two years ago. A total of 50 coronavirus deaths have occurred in the county in a little more than a year.
The state’s Environment Department reported these rapid responses for COVID-19 employee infections at these entities last week:
— Ute Lake State Park, Logan, one case reported June 17;
— City of Tucumcari, two cases reported June 17;
— Circle K at 601 E. Route 66 Blvd., Tucumcari, one case reported June 21.
A total of 1,251 new cases of coronavirus were reported Friday in New Mexico. That raised the total since the pandemic began to more than 558,000.
New Mexico’s seven-day daily case rate was 949 by Friday, a sign the spread of the disease was plateauing. The rate was 964 the previous week.
The COVID Act Now website, however, on Friday downgraded New Mexico to high risk of community risk level of the disease. Quay County’s community risk level is low.
A total of 196 people were hospitalized in New Mexico with the disease Friday, an increase of 39 from the previous week. Hospitalizations have risen in the state since early May, though the numbers aren’t nearly as high as during previous COVID-19 surges.
Six COVID-19 deaths were reported in the state Friday, raising the total to 7,905.
In the Amarillo metro region, the total number of active cases on Friday continued to rise. The number rose from 796 to 958 in one week.
The disease has killed 1,278 people in the Amarillo metro since the pandemic began.
In the U.S., more than 86.9 million cases have been confirmed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with nearly 1.02 million deaths, through Saturday.
The New Mexico Department of Health announced last week that children from six months to 4 years old now are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccinations after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved them.
The agency stated pre-ordered doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines began arriving in New Mexico last week to clinics throughout the state. Another 5,000 to 7,500 doses are expected to arrive this week, with a steady flow to follow, ensuring a sufficient quantity for all who are eligible.
New Mexico residents can schedule vaccinations for themselves or their children through the state’s registration portal at VaccineNM.org. The Department of Health’s vaccination helpline is available at 855-600-3453, option 3.
The Department of Health recommends COVID-19 drugs for those who have contracted the disease in its early stages and are at high risk for serious illness. These drugs are highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death but must be taken within days of the first symptom.