The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 in Eddy County from June 5 to June 7, a significant increase from previous days the department attributed to the inclusion of old data which had been backlogged.
“These results were not electronic submissions, but faxes that were backlogged and just being entered now,” said Dan Sosin, DOH epidemiologist in the email to the City of Carlsbad reviewed by the Current-Argus.
Jimmy Masters, DOH’s southeast region director, said Eddy County residents should not be concerned about the increased cases reported.
“For right now it means Eddy County is in the Turquoise color. Eddy County has had low numbers. It was just data not being logged,” he said. “It’s older information. Eddy County is still looking good.”
More:Eddy County COVID-19 vaccine tracker: 26% of people fully vaccinated
Of the 19 cases reported Monday, 16 cases were reported as old data, said DOH Spokesperson James Walton. He said there were three new positive cases reported during the weekend.
DOH noted Monday the 88220 zip code was No. 1 in New Mexico’s top 10 zip codes with the most COVID-19 cases in New Mexico at 17 as a result of the data.
A Doña Ana County zip code was second at 16 and a San Juan County zip code was third at 15, DOH noted in a news release.
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Eddy County’s June COVID-19 numbers were in single digits until Monday’s report.
Of the reported cases since March 2020, DOH’s demographic breakdown indicated that 442 of those ages 0 through 9 had tested positive for the virus. Of those cases among persons aged 30 to 39 there were 1,217 positive cases, per the data.
The numbers fell by almost 200 in the 40 to 49 category and decreased to 79 for those 90 and older, according to DOH data.
Across New Mexico Tuesday, 79 new cases were reported by DOH.
COVID-related deaths continue in Eddy County
DOH reported Eddy County’s 140th COVID-19 death on Friday. A man in his 60s died at least 30 days ago. He was hospitalized at the time of his death and suffered from underlying medical conditions.
In a news release, DOH said delays in reporting deaths related to the virus were the result of insufficient information or the slow issuance of death certificates.
DOH reported one additional death on Tuesday across New Mexico and the overall death count is 4,287.
State officials emphasized the importance of vaccinations for all New Mexicans. As of Monday, DOH stated more than 2 million vaccines were administered statewide and 66.2 percent of the population had at least one shot and 56.7 percent were fully vaccinated.
Eddy County lags behind the New Mexico in vaccinations as 41.8 percent of the County received at least one shot and 33.9 percent were fully vaccinated.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the current color-coded system would be phased out after 60 percent of the state’s eligible population had completed a vaccination series and two weeks — allowing for the vaccinations to take full effect — have passed.
DOH indicated 79,975 people across Eddy County were tested for the virus as of Tuesday and cited 6,902 total cases and 6,703 recoveries since the beginning of the epidemic.
More:Least restrictive COVID-19 levels remain in Eddy County
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
