Counties showing improvements on infections

Both Curry and Roosevelt counties are showing improvements in the last week on COVID-19 infections, with Roosevelt County reporting just two new infections during Monday’s report from the governor’s office.

The state report indicated a total of 628 new infections of COVID-19, its second-straight day under 1,000 cases and third inside of seven days.

Locally, Curry County accounted for 30 new infections while Roosevelt had the two. The Monday total was the best day of 2021 for the county, and its fourth time reporting single-digit cases in the last seven days.

Roosevelt County, however, did report its 41st death on Monday — a female in her 90s who was a resident of the Heartland Continuing Care Center.

The region’s longterm care centers have reported a dozen deaths from COVID-19 since October — one in October, one in November, three in December and seven this month. Heartland has had five COVID-19 deaths, all since Jan. 2.

So far in January, Curry County has reported 512 new cases. At that rate, the county would compile 882 cases for the month, compared to 849 reported in December. Curry County has reported eight deaths so far in January, and has had 53 total deaths during the pandemic.

Roosevelt County has reported 194 new cases this month, and is on pace for 335 cases. The county recorded 508 cases in December. It has reported 14 deaths this month, compared to 13 in December and 14 between June and November. It remains on pace to tie the region record for most COVID-19 deaths in a single month, matching Curry County’s 24 reported deaths in December.

In other COVID-19 developments:

• The Environment Department’s Monday Rapid Response Watchlist included four local establishments, three in Clovis and one in Portales, among a list of 77 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.

The Clovis locations are Mental Health Resources with five rapid responses, and BNSF Railway and Community Homecare with two each. In Portales, Brown Early Childhood Center has had two rapid responses.

An establishment that reaches four rapid responses inside 14 days is under consideration for a 14-day closure. A total of 28 establishments across the state, none local, have been closed under the health order. Only one closure has been ordered since Dec. 22, an Albuquerque building material store that will resume operations on Friday.