Curry, Roosevelt likely to fall just short of yellow rating

Curry and Roosevelt counties are going to be close, but will likely fall just short of the yellow designation for relaxed public health orders when the state provides an update today on its county-based “Red to Green” reopening.

Every two weeks since Nov. 30, the state has measured each county based on whether they meet the two gating benchmarks of 8 daily cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity of 5% or less. The state gives a green designation to counties that meet both, yellow to counties that meet one and red to counties that meet neither.

Between Jan. 14 and Monday, Curry County has confirmed 261 cases of COVID-19 while Roosevelt County has confirmed 80. Those are well ahead of the numbers needed to meet the daily case metric — 56 for Curry and 23 for Roosevelt over two weeks.

However, the test positivity rates for that same period were just above the 5% mark. Curry County had conducted 4,603 tests, making the test positivity rate 5.67%. Roosevelt County had conducted 1,516 tests, making its test positivity rate 5.27%

The state is anticipated to release county results today at noon. The next data collection period will run Thursday through Feb. 10.

here are several difference between the red and yellow levels, but the key differences are:

• Restaurant service: Under the red designation, indoor dining is not permitted and outdoor patio dining is limited to 25% capacity. A yellow county may provide indoor dining at 25% capacity and outdoor dining at 75% capacity.

• Mass gatherings: Defined in red counties as five people or 10 vehicles, and in yellow counties at 10 people or 25 vehicles.

• Close contact businesses: Can operate with the smaller of 25% capacity or 10 customers in red counties, or the smaller of 25% capacity or 20 customers in yellow counties.

• Places of lodging: Any facility that has not completed NM Safe Certified training is limited to 25% occupancy regardless of county designation. For facilities that have, those in red counties are limited to 40% capacity while those in yellow counties can go to 60%.

In order COVID-19 developments:

• The state announced 494 new cases Monday, including 14 in Curry County and five in Roosevelt County.

A Curry County man was among the 12 deaths announced Monday. The male, in his 90s, had underlying conditions and was a resident of Wheatfields Senior Living Community.

• The Environment Department’s Rapid Response Watchlist included two Curry County establishments and one in Roosevelt County among a list of 70 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 locations are BNSF Railway with three rapid responses, Texico High School with two and Dora Elementary with two.

An establishment that reaches four rapid responses inside 14 days is under consideration for a 14-day closure. However, no local establishment has been closed under such a directive despite exceeding the threshold.