COVID-19 cases per 100K and positivity rate drops in Eddy County during early February

Mike Smith, Carlsbad Current-Argus
·3 min read

Eddy County’s COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people and positivity rate dropped from late January to early February, read data from the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH).

During a COVID-19 reporting period from Jan. 25 through Feb. 7, Eddy County’s cases per 100,000 people was 137.80 and the positivity rate was 31.60 percent, according to DOH.

Cases per 100,000 was 243.40 and a positivity rate of 36.3 percent was noted by DOH in Eddy County Jan. 18 through Jan. 31.

More: Eddy County COVID-19 vaccine tracker: 42% of people fully vaccinated

Eddy County had the lowest positivity rate versus neighboring counties of Chaves and Lea, cited DOH figures from Jan. 25 through Feb. 7.

Chaves County had a positivity rate of 35.44 percent and Lea County had a positivity rate of 32.46 percent, DOH numbers read.

Lea County had the lowest cases per 100,000 amongst the other southeastern New Mexico counties with 71.60.

A sign at the Eddy County Public Health Office in Artesia reminds people it is a COVID-19 vaccination site. Vaccinations are also offered in Carlsbad.
A sign at the Eddy County Public Health Office in Artesia reminds people it is a COVID-19 vaccination site. Vaccinations are also offered in Carlsbad.

Chaves County’s cases per 100,000 was 151.50 and Eddy County’s was 137.80, DOH said.

Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cases per 100,000 referred to the number of new cases per 100,000 people and percent positivity referred to the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in a seven-day period.

Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway said positivity cases dropped around 20 percent across New Mexico this week.

“We are happy to see the case counts falling throughout the state, as we seem to be turning the corner on the Omicron wave. Increased vaccinations have very likely contributed to this, as being vaccinated greatly reduces the severity of illness, should a breakthrough infection occur,” said DOH Spokesperson Katy Diffendorfer.

More: Eddy County seven-day COVID-19 average plunges in early February

As of Feb. 8, DOH’s COVID-19 vaccination database cited 91 percent of New Mexicans had one COVID-19 shot and 77.5 percent had both vaccinations and 43 percent had a booster.

DOH did not have a percentage of Eddy County residents who received booster doses.

Nearly 65 percent of Eddy County’s population had received one COVID-19 dose and 56 percent had both vaccinations, according to DOH.

“New Mexico has done a great job getting vaccinated, although there is still work to do for boosters, which improve wellness outcomes,” Diffendorfer said.

The New Mexico Department of Health reminds people what to do after a COVID-19 positive is revealed.
The New Mexico Department of Health reminds people what to do after a COVID-19 positive is revealed.

New cases remained below 100 in Eddy County

DOH said Eddy County reported 92 new COVID-19 positive infections during the weekend of Feb. 5 through Feb. 7.

Thirty-one cases were the average during the weekend, DOH data read.

DOH did not report any COVID-19 deaths in Eddy County Feb. 5 through Feb. 8.

More: COVID-19 positivity increases substantially in Eddy County from December to January

“That’s actually good news – the last three-day total came out Jan. 31 and reported 295 cases for Eddy County,” Janway wrote in his Feb. 8 COVID-19 update.

Sixty-seven new cases were reported in Eddy County Feb. 8 and Carlsbad was No. 4 in DOH’s top-10 zip codes with the newest COVID-19 cases in New Mexico.

Carlsbad had 55 new cases, according to DOH. Three communities near Las Cruces and El Paso were ahead of Carlsbad.

Cars wait for drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the Bulldog Bowl parking lot in Artesia on Jan. 25, 2022.
Cars wait for drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the Bulldog Bowl parking lot in Artesia on Jan. 25, 2022.

Chaparral was first with 77, followed by Sunland Park at 58 and Anthony was No. 3 with 58 new cases, read DOH figures.

Eddy County had 16,628 total COVID-19 cases as of Feb. 8 with 154,745 total tests and 12,871 recoveries.

Carlsbad had the most COVID-19 cases with 10, 821 and Artesia had 4,675, stated DOH numbers.

“We feel like Carlsbad – and the rest of the country- are pushing through the January surge in cases,” Janway stated in his Feb. 8 update.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Key COVID-19 figures fall in February in Eddy County