Fifteen counties showing overall improvement

SANTA FE — The state’s newest data in its “Red to Green” framework has 31 of 33 counties still in the red, but 15 counties showing overall improvements on daily COVID-19 cases and test positivity.

Curry County had 61.4 daily cases and 15.11% test positivity. Roosevelt County was at 62.4 cases and 19.27% test positivity.

The state in December created framework for counties with three different sets of public health orders depending on whether the county met benchmarks of eight daily cases per 100,000 residents and 5% test positivity or lower.

The least stringent green designation is for counties that meet both metric, while yellow is for counties that meet one and red for counties that meet neither.

Harding County, which didn’t record any COVID-19 cases between Dec. 31 and Wednesday, was the only green county in the state.

Union County moved into the red, with 22.7 cases per 100,000 residents and 3.8% test positivity.

Curry and Roosevelt were two of the 16 counties that saw test positivity rates decline.

Roosevelt’s drop from on 26.25% on Dec. 30 to 19.27% Wednesday was the fifth-best improvement by percentage, and the daily cases per 100,000 dropped from 94.8 to 62.4. It was one of 12 counties to show improvement in both metrics.

While Curry’s test positivity dropped from 15.3% to 15.11% over the two-week period, it did see a jump in cases per 100,000 — from 43 to 62.4.

Information is available at cv.nmhealth.org/redtogreen.

Friday reports

The state announced 1,266 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, including 46 in Curry County and seven in Roosevelt County. Among the 38 reported deaths was a Curry County man in his 70s who was hospitalized.

So far in January, Curry County has reported 446 new cases. At that rate, the county would compile 922 cases for the month, compared to 849 reported in December.

Roosevelt County has reported 175 new cases this month, and is on pace for 350 cases. The county recorded 508 cases in December.

January deaths

Roosevelt County has reported 12 COVID-19 related deaths in January, nearly twice as many as any other area county, according to state health officials.

In all, Roosevelt County has reported 39 COVID-19 deaths -- 20 men and 19 women, with an average age of about 75. The county had 14 COVID-19 deaths between June and November, before recording 13 in December and 12 so far in January.

Roosevelt County is on pace to tie the region’s record for most COVID-19 deaths in a month in a single county; Curry County reported 24 deaths in December.

Curry County has reported eight deaths so far in January, and has reported a total of 53 deaths.

Long term care centers

The state, in its daily reports, includes up to six criteria when listing a COVID-19 death — county of residence, gender, age (by decade), hospitalization (if any), underlying conditions (if any) and residency at a longterm care facility (if applicable).

A search of those reports for five area facilities produces a total of 11 local deaths, with eight of them coming in the last three weeks.

• Four deaths have been reported from Retirement Ranch in Clovis — a female in her 90s reported Oct. 13, a female in her 80s reported Nov. 27, a female in her 60s reported Dec. 1 and a male in his 70s reported Dec. 31.

• Three deaths have been reported at Wheatfields Senior Living Community in Clovis — a male in his 90s reported Dec. 29, a female in her 80s reported Jan. 3 and a female in her 90s reported Jan. 6.

• Four deaths have been reported at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales — a female in her 80s reported Jan. 2, a male in his 80s reported Jan. 6, a female in her 80s reported Jan. 7 and a female in her 80s reported Jan. 8.

The state has not reported deaths from St. Anthony Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis or Beehive Homes in Portales and Clovis.

Watchlist

The Environment Department’s Friday Rapid Response Watchlist included four local establishments, all in Clovis, among a list of 86 that have accumulated at least two rapid responses within 14 days.

The state initiates a rapid response when it learns of a positive COVID-19 case in a workplace. The state agency initiating the rapid response will offer direction to establishments regarding testing, quarantining and isolating, disinfecting, and COVID-safe practices.

The Clovis locations are Mental Health Resources with five rapid responses and the other three with two each — BNSF Railway, Community Homecare and Kindred At Home.

An establishment that reaches four rapid responses inside 14 days is under consideration for a 14-day closure. However, no local establishment has been closed under such a directive despite exceeding the threshold.