SENM outpaces two larger population New Mexico counties with COVID-19 cases and deaths

Mike Smith, Carlsbad Current-Argus
·3 min read

The number of COVID-19 cases in five southeastern New Mexico counties outpaced those in other New Mexico counties with larger populations, according to New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) data.

As of Dec. 17, Chaves, Lea, Eddy, Lincoln and Otero counties had 50,385 total COVID-19 cases and 904 deaths.

Doña Ana County had 39,372 total COVID-19 cases dating back to March 2020 and 577 deaths.

More: COVID-19 positivity rate rises in Eddy County during December

Santa Fe County had 16,003 total COVID-19 cases and 191 deaths, per DOH data.

Census data showed Doña Ana is the second largest county in New Mexico and Santa Fe was third.

Bernalillo County, New Mexico’s most populous county, had 94,193 total COVID-19 cases with 1,242 deaths as of Dec. 17, read DOH statistics.

A sign at the Eddy County Public Health Office in Artesia reminds people where to get tested for COVID-19.
A sign at the Eddy County Public Health Office in Artesia reminds people where to get tested for COVID-19.

According to Census data, Lea County is seventh in population among New Mexico counties. Otero was ninth, Chaves was tenth and Eddy County is behind Chaves.

Lincoln County was New Mexico’s 19th most populous county, per Census data.

As of Dec. 17, Lea County had 14,446 total COVID-19 cases and 286 deaths, read DOH figures.

Chaves County had 14,768 COVID-19 cases and 224 deaths. Otero County had 8,878 total cases and 133 total deaths. Lincoln County had 3,619 total cases and 43 deaths, DOH data cited as of Dec. 17.

More: Carlsbad Municipal Schools reports 47 school-based COVID-19 cases since Thanksgiving break

Eddy County had 12,293 COVID-19 cases and 218 deaths. Figures from Artesia General Hospital (AGH) said 7,703 Carlsbad residents contracted COVID-19 and 3,656 Artesians had COVID-19 as of Dec. 15.

Southeast New Mexico lags in COVID-19 vaccinations

Eddy, Lea, Chaves, Otero, and Lincoln were far behind the State of New Mexico and the top-three populated counties in vaccination rates.

As of Dec. 17, DOH indicated 88 percent of New Mexicans had at least one COVID-19 dose and 75 percent had both vaccinations.

A health worker administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at the Keystone First Wellness Center in Chester, Pa., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.
A health worker administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at the Keystone First Wellness Center in Chester, Pa., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.

Bernalillo County had 90 percent of the population with at one dose and 78 percent had both vaccinations.

Doña Ana County had 90 percent of its population with one dose and 79 percent with both vaccinations and Santa Fe County had 99 percent with one dose and 85 percent had completed the vaccination series.

Lincoln County had the highest percentages of COVID-19 vaccinations in southeast New Mexico with 72 percent with one dose and 62 percent with both vaccinations.

Nearly 60 percent of residents in Eddy, Chaves and Lea counties had at least one COVID-19 dose and more than 50 percent had both vaccinations in the three counties, per DOH.

More: COVID-19 positive test shuts down Carlsbad Magistrate Court

“Every New Mexican must work together to stem the spread of COVID-19. Wear a mask when in public and around others. If you are sick, stay home as much as possible,” a DOH press release from Dec. 17 stated.

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: SENM outpaces Santa Fe and Dona Ana counties in COVID-19