Two positive cases announced in Roosevelt school community

SANTA FE — The state announced two more positive cases within the school community of Roosevelt County as part of six announced statewide Monday by the Public Education Department.

The state on Thursday began announcing daily positive cases among positive COVID-19 cases that could be considered within a county’s school community, including teachers, staff members and students.

So far, the PED has announced 132 positive tests within those populations, but does not break the positives down among individual school districts. The data does not indicate where the people picked up the infection and notes in some cases those people haven’t been to a school building in months.

The two cases attributed to Roosevelt County Monday were from a public school and a district office. The infected individuals are both staff members who were last in the school building or office Sept. 9 and Sept. 11.

The other four announced cases were two staff members in Chaves County, a staff member in Dona Ana County and a student in Sierra County. In all cases, staff members and the parents or guardians of all students in the affect school have been notified.

On Monday, the state announced 106 new positive COVID-19 cases, including three in Curry County and one in Roosevelt County.

So far in September, Curry County has averaged 3.4 daily cases, down from 9.3 cases per day in July and 6.9 per day in August. Roosevelt County has averaged 3.2 daily cases, down from 2.5 daily cases in July and two per day in August.

The state has reported 27,683 cases with 851 deaths and 15,518 recoveries.

Two long-term care facilities in eastern New Mexico are included on a state list of facilities reporting a positive COVID-19 case among staff or residents in the last 28 days. Wheatfields Senior Living remained on the list Monday despite reporting its last positive Aug. 21, but officials reported there are no current COVID-19 cases at the facility. Retirement Ranch reported its last positive to The News Aug. 23, and could be off the list later this week.