RGH vaccinating about 100 per day

PORTALES — Roosevelt General Hospital officials are administering about 100 COVID-19 Pfizer vaccinations per day, with 928 doses delivered so far.

RGH Chief Executive Officer Kaye Green also told Roosevelt County commissioners on Tuesday that officials are “being liberal” with state guidelines to ensure no vaccines go to waste.

Those who qualify for the vaccine are ages 75 and up and those 16 and up with underlying conditions, plus frontline essential workers.

“We did start vaccinating teachers because we felt that they fell into that (essential worker) category,” Green told commissioners. “And just the past week or so we've gotten some new information from the state that we need to stop that because they are looking at perhaps a vaccine shortage now and into the future.

“What I will tell you is at RGH, our goal is to fill all of our appointment slots.”

Green spoke for nearly an hour on Tuesday, updating commissioners on multiple virus-related issues.

She said as of Monday RGH had one person being treated for COVID-19; the last few weeks have shown a clear decline in cases.

State health records show the county had 13 cases reported between Friday and Sunday, with an average of 32.7 daily cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 8.46%. Gating criteria for the state's “Red to Green” reopening requires 8 cases per 100,0000 and a 5% or lower test positivity rate.

Green told commissioners she questioned “the absolute accuracy of some of that data,” because reporting requirements have changed and recent numbers may not be timely.

“I know the state is doing the best they can and we're complying with all the reporting requirements.”

Green said the hospital has received $9 million from CARES Act grants for COVID-related upgrades. Part of those funds will go to a new COVID-19/infectious disease clinic, which will be separate but attached to the main facility. It is estimated to cost $3 million and be completed around mid-June. After the pandemic the space will be used for specialty care.

Also to be created with the funds is a non-clinical business space for offices that will decompress the main building and allow for the expansion of operational space. This project will also cost about $3 million.

Remaining funds will be used for the emergency department and expanding the surgery department to include cardiology and orthopedic specialties.

At the end of Green's presentation, she fielded questions from commissioners.

Commissioner Shane Lee asked if Green knew how many COVID tests taken in the county include residents of other counties, and if outside residents were impacting the numbers.

Green said she believes approximately 95% of tests taken in Roosevelt County are taken by local residents, but said she does not have access to complete data.

Commissioner Rodney Savage asked if Green know how residents from bordering states like Arizona impacted New Mexico's numbers. Green said early in the pandemic, residents from Arizona came to the state to get tests, but she believed it was for a brief period that did not significantly impact numbers.