Clovis ZIP code highest in state for virus infections

CLOVIS — The Clovis 88101 ZIP code was the highest in the state for COVID-19 infections Friday, according to a report from the New Mexico Department of Health.

The 55 total cases in Curry County, 51 in the 88101 ZIP code, were part of a day with 914 new cases announced along with eight new deaths. Roosevelt County confirmed 28 new cases on Friday, all in the 88130 ZIP code, which was seventh in the state.

Of the top 10 ZIP codes for COVID-19 infections Friday, six were in the Southeast region that includes Curry and Roosevelt counties. The other four were from the Albuquerque metro area, as Bernalillo County reported 171 new cases.

The state has reported three local deaths this week, including two Curry County males reported Thursday and one Roosevelt County woman reported Tuesday.

The Curry County residents were both male, one in his 50s and one in his 60s, and both had underlying conditions. The Roosevelt County woman was in her 80s and a resident of Goodlife Senior Living in Portales.

• Curry County recorded 869 new cases of COVID-19 during the month of August. Only November (1,559) has seen more new cases in the county in a single month since the pandemic began.

• Roosevelt County recorded 304 new cases of the virus in August. That’s the most in that county since December, when it recorded 508.

• Plains Regional Medical Center reported an average of 24 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized daily over the past week. An average of four patients per day were in intensive care. The Clovis hospital reported two virus-related deaths in the past week.

• Between Monday and Friday, Clovis Municipal Schools confirmed 44 COVID-positive individuals who were present at a school building. The cases led to 396 people requiring a 10-day quarantine as a close contact. Vaccinated individuals who are not showing symptoms are not required to quarantine; for instance, six cases at Clovis High School resulted in one quarantine.

• New Mexico on Friday reached 78% full vaccination for adults, with 68.1% receiving at least one dose. Curry and Roosevelt are 30th and 33rd among counties, respectively, at 43.8% and 34.7%. Catron County (41.4%) and Torrance County (41.3%) stands between them. Los Alamos County is the most vaccinated county at 86.9%.

Vaccine registration is available at nmvaccine.org.