Slight drop in infections statewide

SANTA FE — The state saw a slight drop in COVID-19 infections on Monday compared to prior days, and a statewide trend of falling hospitalizations is reflected locally as well. However, a post-holiday increase is still possible, based on recent history.

The state reported 936 new COVID-19 infections Monday, down from totals of 1,033 Sunday and 1,252 on Saturday following New Year’s Day on Friday.

The prior week saw a Dec. 28 report of 703 cases three days after Christmas, but a sharp uptick followed the rest of the week, with 1,221 cases on Dec. 29 and a peak of 1,684 cases on New Year’s Eve.

The state reported 703 virus hospitalizations Monday, down from a peak of 947 in early December. The decline has been especially steep over the past week — with about 100 fewer patients in hospitals now than in the final days of 2020. The falling hospitalizations come as the state Department of Health encourages New Mexicans to register online to be notified when they're eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To preregister, visit cvvaccine.nmhealth.org.

More than 230,000 people have signed up in the past two weeks — more than one in 10 New Mexicans. State health officials say they believe the registration system is the only one of its kind in the country.

The site now allows New Mexicans to fill out a comprehensive profile with their medical conditions and employment information to help the state manage vaccine distribution.

"Our highest priorities remain the same: ensuring that vaccine goes to those who are most exposed to infected people or infectious materials, and preventing vaccine from going to waste," Health Secretary-Designate Tracie Collins said in a news release.

Monday’s report included 33 new Curry County cases and eight new Roosevelt County cases. The 23 deaths reported by the state included one local resident, a Curry County man in his 60s who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.

In local COVID-19 developments:

• Roosevelt County reported eight deaths from Dec. 29 through Monday. The county overall has reported 30 COVID-related deaths since June 15.

• Curry County reported five deaths from Dec. 29 through Monday. The county overall has reported 48 COVID-related deaths since July 7.

• Clovis' Plains Regional Medical Center had just one patient with COVID-19 in its intensive care unit on Monday, and none on Tuesday. The hospital averaged more than six COVID patients daily in its ICU the last half of December. The hospital had 17 non-ICU COVID-19 patients Tuesday, compared to 19 Monday and 16 Sunday.

• Roosevelt County reported an average of 10 new COVID cases per day from Dec. 30 through Monday. The county averaged 16.8 new cases per day from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31.

• Curry County averaged 39.5 new cases per day from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. It's reported an average of 29.3 new cases per day over the past week.

• The state’s Rapid Response Watchlist included two local establishments in a total of 76 with at least two rapid responses in the last 14 days.

In Clovis, Interim Health Care has six listed rapid responses. In Portales, La Casa Family Health Center has three rapid responses, down from seven last week.

Establishments that have four or more rapid responses are under consideration for 14-day closures, but those parameters largely don’t apply to health providers and no local establishment has been closed despite a handful reaching four or more rapid responses.

Dan McKay of the Albuqueruqe Journal contributed to this report.