COVID-19 infections continue to drop across state

The COVID-19 infection rate is continuing to drop statewide, with February shaping up to be much better than its three predecessors.

Eight days into February, the average daily case count of 5.9 in Curry County is nearly one-fourth of the January average of 22.7, and down from 27.3 in December and 52 in November. For Roosevelt County, the 4.3 daily February cases are a drop from 8.4 in January, 16.4 in December and 17.1 in November.

On Monday, the Department of Health reported 315 new cases of COVID-19, including seven in Curry County and one in Roosevelt County. A drop to below 300 would be the first such day in nearly three months. The DOH reported 269 cases on Oct. 11, with a peak day of 3,675 cases on Nov. 19.

The Tuesday report from the department included 413 cases, including four in Curry County and five in Roosevelt County.

Tuesday's report also included five Roosevelt County deaths among the 19 statewide. Four were males, and three were residents of Heartland Continuing Care Center. The deaths were the first reported in the county since Jan. 31, and put Roosevelt at 50 deaths since the pandemic began. The five reports are the most reported locally for any day of the pandemic.

A total of 178,280 cases have been confirmed since the pandemic began last March, with 3,431 deaths and 113,448 cases designated as recovered.

Red to Green

Every two weeks since Nov. 30, the state has measured counties for its “Red to Green” reopening plan based on whether they meet two metrics — 8 daily cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity rate at 5% or lower.

Counties receive the most relaxed public health orders under the green designation for meeting both, yellow for meeting one and red if they meet neither.

Since Jan. 25, the end of the last two-week period:

• Curry County has confirmed 130 cases and conducted 3,699 tests, a raw test positivity rate of 3.51%.

• Roosevelt County has confirmed 62 cases and conducted 1,423 tests, a raw test positivity rate of 4.36%.

The state calculates test positivity by eliminating duplicate tests from data collection, but those numbers are not provided on the public dashboard.

Neither county can make the green designation due to the daily case rates. Curry County must be below 56 and Roosevelt 23 over a two-week period to meet that criteria.

Vaccine reporting

The New Mexico Department of Health announced a change Monday in the way it reports COVID-19 vaccinations.

The county-based reporting at cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard.html, beginning Tuesday, reported vaccination totals based on the recipient’s county of residence. Previously, such data was associated with the county where the vaccination took place.

As of Tuesday morning, Curry County was reporting 10.4 doses administered per 100 residents, with 5,216 individuals receiving at least one of the two necessary doses for vaccination. Roosevelt County’s rates were 9.1 doses per 100 residents and 1,765 individuals receiving at least one vaccination.

Union County has the top vaccination rate at 42 doses per 100 residents, while Mora County is last at 3.8. Curry is 21st at 10.4, while Roosevelt is 26th at 9.1.

The Monday release said the state is looking at ways to increase allocations in the lowest-performing counties, including supporting new providers in the distribution system.

Watchlist shrinks

There were no local establishments on the Environment Department’s Tuesday Rapid Response Watchlist. The list included 34 establishments that have accumulated at least two rapid responses within 14 days, down from 41 on Friday.

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.

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