Report: 306 new COVID-19 cases in New Mexico as of Friday

Friday’s Department of Health report saw the state confirm 306 new cases of COVID-19, with two in Curry County and none in Roosevelt County.

Through the first five days of March, Curry County has confirmed 22 cases while Roosevelt has confirmed two. During the same five days, the state has confirmed 71 deaths with none in Curry or Roosevelt counties. The state’s seven-day rolling average, as of Friday, was 265.3 daily cases.

Plains Regional Medical Center reported six COVID-19 patients on Wednesday, with two in intensive care.

In various COVID-19 developments:

Red to Green: The state has, since Nov. 30, graded counties every two weeks on meeting gating criteria of 8 daily cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity at or below 5%. Green counties meet both, yellow counties meet one and red counties meet neither. A three-tier public health order applies to each county, with relaxed restrictions for yellow and green levels.

Curry County made the yellow designation Feb. 10, while Roosevelt County made it Feb. 24. Roosevelt, however, may beat Curry to the green designation if case numbers hold. Between the last data collection period on Feb. 22 and Monday:

• Curry County has confirmed 56 cases and conducted 2,289 tests, a raw test positivity rate of 2.45%.

• Roosevelt County has confirmed 11 cases and conducted 742 tests, a raw test positivity rate of 1.48%.

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

Curry County must be below 56 new cases and Roosevelt 23 over a two-week period to meet the daily cases per 100,000 criteria.

Fans return: The New Mexico Activities Association announced Thursday night that limited amounts of spectators will be permitted at prep sporting events, with capacity levels based on county metrics on COVID-19 spread.

The spectator policy is based on the state’s “Red to Green” county-based system that measures counties every two weeks based on the gating criteria of eight or fewer daily cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity at or below 5%. Red counties meet neither, yellow counties meet one, green counties meet both and turquoise counties meet the green criteria for consecutive two-week periods.

In turquoise counties, spectators will be permitted at 75% capacity in outdoor settings and 33% in indoor settings.

In green counties, spectators will be permitted at 50% outdoor capacity and 25% indoor capacity.

In yellow counties, spectators will be permitted at 25% outdoor capacity with no spectators permitted in indoor settings.

Spectators will not be permitted in red counties.

Area green counties include Quay and De Baca, while area yellow counties include Curry, Roosevelt and Chaves counties.

“We are so excited about the opportunity to have spectators at some school sporting events,” NMAA Executive Director Sally Marquez said. “We have been working hard with the governor’s office, the Public Education Department and the Department of Health to find a way to safely allow fans at the games. We all have something to cheer about.”

Vaccines: According to the state’s vaccine portal, a total of 652,154 COVID-19 vaccinations have been distributed and 24.2% of New Mexicans have had at least one of two doses.

“For every one person who gets COVID,” Human Services Secretary David Scrase said in a Wednesday webinar, “we’re vaccinating 43 people — an absolute recipe for success.”

Health Secretary Tracie Collins said the state has received an initial shipment of 17,200 Johnson and Johnson vaccines, and they are being sent to the 10 counties with the lowest vaccine coverage to date.

Curry County has 20% of its population partially vaccinated and 14.8% fully vaccinated, compared to 19.1% partially and 12% fully in Roosevelt County.

Fingerprint services resume: The Clovis Police Department will resume its fingerprint services on Tuesday, with appointments available at 575-763-9428.

Appointments will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and all participants must wear masks and follow COVID-safe protocols.

First responders and medical personnel will be given alternative dates and times for appointments.

Rapid response watchlist: There were 44 establishments Friday on the state’s rapid response watchlist, which tracks entities with multiple rapid responses in a 14-day timeframe.

That is a rise from Monday’s 38, but the list currently includes no local establishments.

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.