COVID-free day in Roosevelt

Roosevelt County experienced a rarity Monday in the COVID-19 pandemic, one it hopes will become more consistent.

When the Department of Health released its daily COVID-19 infection numbers, Roosevelt County was not among the counties confirming a new case.

That is the first time since Sept. 29 that Roosevelt did not record a COVID-19 infection, according to daily DOH reports. At that point, the county had confirmed 282 cases throughout the pandemic. That number was at 1,817 as of Monday, with 1,255 of those designated as recovered.

Curry County was close, recording two infections on Monday. The last time Curry County went without a COVID-19 case was June 11, when the county had only reported 68 cases. As of Monday, that number stood at 4,843, with 3,763 cases designated as recovered.

The state reported 200 new infections on Monday, the lowest statewide daily total since Oct. 5. The seven-day average, between Tuesday and Monday, was 418.4 cases.

Nine deaths were reported in the state Monday, none of them from Curry or Roosevelt counties. So far, 3,538 New Mexico deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported.

• Vaccinations: According to the public dashboard on the state’s vaccine website, the state has so far administered 441,786 doses. Of those, 303,031 were first doses and 138,755 were second booster doses.

Guadalupe County is first among counties at doses per 100 residents at 63, while Curry and Roosevelt are in the lower third of the county list. Curry is 27th at 14.5 doses per resident, while Roosevelt is next at 13.7. Torrance County, at 8.9 doses per 100 residents, is last in the state.

All of the top 10 counties for vaccination rates have at least 25 doses per 100 residents.

Vaccination registration is available at cvvaccine.nmhealth.org. Confirmations for registration and appointments are sent via email and text.

• Watchlist: No local entities are on the Environment Department’s Rapid Response Watchlist, which includes 46 places 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.

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.