NMDOH confirms Omicron variant all over New Mexico including Eddy County

Mike Smith, Carlsbad Current-Argus
·2 min read

The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the COVID-19 Omicron variant spread throughout the entire state as of Jan. 26.

DOH spokesperson Kathy Diffendorfer did not have exact infection data for Eddy County but said 100 percent of New Mexico reported cases of the Omicron variant.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said as of Dec.20, 2021, Omicron was detected in most states and territories and was rapidly becoming a large proportion of COVID-19 cases reported.

“The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and how easily Omicron spreads compared to Delta remains unknown. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms,” the CDC’s website said.

Diffendorfer said New Mexico lagged behind the rest of the United States in Omicron cases, but officially caught up on Jan. 26.

More: Carlsbad Municipal School COVID-19 cases rise above 400 students and staff

DOH confirmed two COVID-19 deaths in Eddy County

The death of a man in his 30s hospitalized with underlying medical conditions, and the death of a man in his 50s, also hospitalized, was linked to COVID-19, read a DOH news release from Jan. 25.

Per DOH figures, 12 Eddy County residents died of COVID-19 complications since Jan. 3. Over 200 people have died from the virus since 2020.

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.

Eddy County had a total of 464 new COVID-19 cases from Jan. 22 through Jan. 24. According to DOH data the County averaged 155 cases per day during the three-day reporting period.

Carlsbad was No. 6 in DOH’s Top-10 zip codes with the most COVID-19 cases in New Mexico as of Jan. 24 with 377. Five northern New Mexico zip codes were ahead of Carlsbad with an Albuquerque zip code topping the list at 638.

New COVID-19 cases in Eddy County dropped to 112 on Jan. 25, DOH indicated and no Eddy County zip code made the Top-10 list.

More: Celebrating our school bands amid Carlsbad's COVID-19 challenges

As of Jan. 25, Eddy County had 15,476 total cases and 149,630 total tests and 12, 233 recoveries, according to DOH.

Carlsbad had the majority of COVID-19 cases among Eddy County municipalities with 9,986. Artesia had 4,426, Loving had 492 and Hope had 42 as of Jan. 25.

Eddy County lags in vaccinations

The State of New Mexico as a whole remained ahead of Eddy County in COVID-19 vaccinations as of Jan. 25.

DOH said 91 percent of New Mexicans had at least one dose and 77 percent completed the vaccination series and 41 percent had a booster.

A sign at Artesia General Hospital on Jan. 24, 2022 reminds Eddy County residents to fight COVID-19.
A sign at Artesia General Hospital on Jan. 24, 2022 reminds Eddy County residents to fight COVID-19.

Eddy County had 64 percent of the population with least one dose and 56 percent had both COVID-19 vaccinations. DOH did not have booster figures for Eddy County.

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: Omicron variant all over New Mexico including Eddy County