Curry employees potentially exposed

CLOVIS — A Curry County employee was sent home from the county administrative complex Thursday, and four other county employees are under quarantine following notification of a potential COVID-19 exposure.

According to County Manager Lance Pyle, county staff was informed of an employee exposed to COVID-19 at 4:15 p.m. The employee, who was asymptomatic, was instructed to leave work and contact the New Mexico Department of Health. The employee was tested Friday morning, Pyle said, and cannot return to work without a negative test.

The county does not test staff at the administrative complex unless they have had an exposure, show symptoms or request a test, Pyle said.

At the detention center, at least 5% of staff is tested weekly and all detainees are tested upon arrival. The county has had no positive tests, with 14 tests pending as of Friday, according to Pyle.