Region sees 66 new cases of COVID-19

Eastern New Mexico reported 66 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday — 48 in Curry County and 18 in Roosevelt — as part of the state’s overall confirmation of 2,080 new cases.

The report included 33 deaths, with none reported in Curry or Roosevelt counties.

The state has reported a total of 104,935 cases since the pandemic began in March, with 1,706 deaths and 35,781 cases designated as recovered.

Curry County has recorded 3,359 cases and 28 deaths, with 1,305 cases designated as recovered. Roosevelt County has recorded 1,081 cases with 16 deaths and 377 cases designated as recovered.

A total of 934 individuals were hospitalized as of Friday across the state.

Plains Regional Medical Center reported it had 27 COVID-19 patients Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Saturday it reported 31 COVID-19 patients with six in ICU.

• Roosevelt and Curry counties both announced Friday they would continue to keep their offices closed to the public through December as a precaution — Curry through December and Roosevelt through Jan. 4.

Curry County closed offices to the public Nov. 13, and between Oct. 8 and Nov. 24 had 21 employees test positive for COVID-19. Also, the offices were short-staffed with other employees on quarantines due to exposures, County Manager Lance Pyle said.

Curry County currently has no COVID-positive employees and no employees on leave due to exposure, Pyle said.

• Ten local establishments, eight in Curry County and two in Roosevelt County, were on the state watchlist for multiple rapid responses in the last 14 days.

A rapid response is initiated after a business reports an employee has tested positive for COVID-19, and measures can include testing of all employees and sanitizing of the site.

An establishment with four rapid responses in 14 days will be considered for a 14-day closure by the state, but each decision is made on an individual basis. For example, BNSF Railways and Southwest Cheese have been at or above the threshold at various times, but the state has not acted due to the interstate nature of the railroad and the cheese plant’s role in national food production.

Clovis’ most recent locations include BNSF Railways with five rapid responses, Southwest Cheese with three and the other six with two each — Albertsons Market, ENMR Plateau, Gebo Distributing, Hobby Lobby, La Casita Elementary and Zia Elementary.

Portales’ most recent locations are Homespot Properties with three and Portales High School with two.