Three Clovis patients test negative for COVID-19

CLOVIS — Three Clovis-area patients have been tested for COVID-19, and all three tests have come back negative for the virus.

That’s according to Dr. Albert Kwan, president of the medical staff at Plains Regional Medical Center, who spoke with The News on Sunday evening.

State health officials said Sunday they’ve tested more than 5,300 for COVID-19 in New Mexico, and 65 have tested positive.

Kwan said all New Mexico tests are sent to Tri-Core Labs in Albuquerque, where results are provided within 24 to 48 hours.

He said the names of those tested will not be released, even if they test positive because of privacy laws.

Kwan said he does not know if other area medical facilities have tested patients for COVID-19. The closest counties to Curry and Roosevelt that have confirmed positive tests are in Lea County, New Mexico, and Deaf Smith and Castro County in Texas.

Officials have said anyone showing symptoms of the disease — fever, cough or shortness of breath — should call their doctor. Kwan also recommended calling the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-855-600-3453.

“They will walk you through what to do,” Kwan said.

New Mexico Department of Health, on its website, also reminds residents that, “This is allergy season, and allergy symptoms such as sneezing or itchy eyes, nose or throat do not indicate a need for testing.”

“While the state is gratified that COVID-19 testing is increasingly available, we need to prioritize testing for persons with symptoms of COVID-19 …”

Nationally, more than 15,000 cases have been confirmed, and about 200 people have died. No deaths have been reported in New Mexico or the Texas Panhandle.

The Department of Health reported Sunday that the most recent cases in New Mexico are:

• Two in Bernalillo County — a female in her 60s, a male in his 30s.

• Two in Doña Ana County — a female in her 50s, a female in her 20s.

• One in McKinley County — a 9-year-old boy.

• One in San Juan County — a male in his 50s.

• Two in Santa Fe County — a male in his 30s, a male in his 40s.

Total confirmed cases by county, through Sunday:

• Bernalillo County: 34

• Doña Ana County: 4

• Lea County: 1

• McKinley County: 2

• Sandoval County: 7

• San Juan County: 1

• San Miguel County: 1

• Santa Fe County: 10

• ​Socorro County: 2

• Taos County: 3

Here are confirmed COVID-19 cases from the Texas Panhandle, as of Sunday:

• Castro: 1

• Deaf Smith: 1

• Hockley: 2

• Lubbock: 2

• Oldham: 1

• Potter: 2